Mamata Banerjee questions timing of UPA's austerity measures

KANKSHA: Questioning the timing of the austerity measures announced by the UPA government and virtually criticising the ban on new appointments in central government departments as part of it, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today said the decisions "have no depth".

"Why the austerity decision has to be taken on the fifth year of the government? We (the state government) are practising this (austerity) right from the beginning. I do not think there is depth in the decision the UPA took before going out", Banerjee told a rally in connection with a state government programme where she announced a slew of sops for the poor.

"There has been a freeze on fresh appointments as part of the austerity measures announced yesterday. People would decide on it," she said.

The Centre yesterday unveiled austerity measures putting a freeze on fresh appointments, banning holding of its conferences in 5-star hotels and barring officials from executive class air travel in a bid to check fiscal deficit from going out of control.