Don't stay in 5-star hotel, avoid availing PSU benefits: PM Modi warns Union Ministers

New Delhi: In a stern warning to his cabinet ministers, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told them to refrain from staying in five-star hotels, and avail of any benefit from public sector undertakings attached to their ministries.

As per a Times of India report, PM Modi had on Wednesday asked his ministers to stay back after a cabinet meeting and ‘read the riot act’ to them. The report said that the prime minister was ‘extremely unhappy’ with the recent tendency of some ministers' preference to stay in five-star hotels instead of accommodation that the government provides.

The PM made it clear to the ministers that they should stick to government accommodation while on official duty and not give into the "temptation" of staying in five star hotels, the report added.

The prime minister also made it clear that he would not tolerate any misuse of vehicles of PSUs, either by ministers or their families.

The PM is learnt to have minced few words as he expressed concern over the signs that some ministers may have begun to use the perks of office. It is believed that the PM had made it clear that he will allow no compromise with his 'zero tolerance to corruption' stance.

This isn't the first time PM Modi has issued a warning to his ministers. Earlier, he had some strict advice for party lawmakers after Amit Shah became a Rajya Sabha member.

“Now Amit Shah is here, all your leisure days are over,” the Prime Minister said, while addressing the MPs during the BJP Parliamentary Party meeting in New Delhi on Thursday. PM Modi's stern words mean that those who are in habit of abstaining from the House proceedings must get their act together. The Prime Minister reportedly told the BJP MPs that newly-elected Rajya Sabha MP Amit Shah will make sure the party lawmakers are in attendance in both the Houses.

"We have asked you multiple times to be present in Parliament. Still some MPs remain absent. What do you think of yourselves? You are nobody, I am nobody, it's the BJP that is of utmost importance," PM Modi told MPs. In July, PM Modi had expressed his displeasure over BJP members' absence from the both Houses of Parliament leading to trouble or embarrassment for the government.

Earlier this month, BJP president Amit Shah took a serious view of party members not attending the Rajya Sabha despite a whip. Shah made his displeasure clear at the BJP parliamentary party meeting after the government faced an embarrassing situation in the Upper House with a united opposition pushing some changes to the Constitution amendment bill on backward classes.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar had confirmed the development saying, the BJP chief asked party MPs to be present in both Houses during the session and told them "not to repeat" (such conduct).

PM Modi also put the members on notice, hinting they could not take things for granted when it comes to the next Lok Sabha election. Aap apni marzi ki karte rahiye, mujhe jo karna hai, 2019 mein karoonga." (You do at your will and I will also act accordingly in 2019)," said Modi at the last meeting of the parliamentary party meet for the monsoon session.

Meanwhile, PM Modi and BJP President Amit Shah will meet chief ministers and deputy chief ministers of all party ruled states tomorrow to take stock of development and social welfare work being done.

Besides 13 chief ministers and six deputy chief ministers, a few cabinet ministers are also likely to attend the meeting, according to sources in the party.

This will be Modi's third meeting with the chief ministers after the BJP swept to power in 2014, but the first such exercise since it formed a government in Bihar by joining hands with the JD(U).

The discussions in the meeting are expected to revolve around implementation of the Centre's flagship schemes in the states and development works being done there, they said.

The meeting is being organised just days after Shah unfolded the blue print for 2019 elections, which may also feature in the discussions.

Shah had asked party leaders to focus on about 120 winnable seats which party lost in 2014 elections and is aiming for more than 350 in the next general elections.

The chief ministers are likely to give presentations of schemes and models undertaken by their respective governments at the meet.