Active, speedy and workaholic, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi used the state’s chopper for 60 times, the state’s aircraft for 15 times and chartered plane for 29 times in 14 months between April 2008 and to May 2009!

The Gujarat state thus paid Rs 26.82 lakh per month since April 2008 to May 2009, in flying chief minister Narendra Modi. Ironically on Narendra Modi’s official website Narendramodi.in, a quote on the top says “Only those who keep walking get sweet returns…look at the sun’s perseverance – dynamic &
always on the move, never dormant…hence keep moving.”

There is almost a tradition to ask the Chief Minister and Ministers, their traveling expenditures in each session of assembly in Gujarat. The period between April 2008 and May 2009 was Lok Sabha election year and Modi was extra active in addressing range of women rallies and Gujarat golden jubilee functions across the state, for which, before code of conduct of the Lok Sabha elections applied, he frequently used government owned and government paid flying machines.

In a written reply to a question asked by Congress MLA Khumansinh Chauhan on the first day of state assembly budget session, the government of Gujarat has given detail that in hiring chartered plane for the Chief minister, expenditure of Rs 3.49 crore was incurred while state’s aircraft cost only Rs 6.41 lakh and chopper cost Rs 19.58 lakh.

In the 14 months, the state paid Rs 3.75 crore for the air traveling of the chief minister.