Click to play videoNew Delhi: It's a financial crisis but our MPs aren't feeling the crunch, so much as the need to unwind.
A stone's throw away from the parliament, politicians of all shades can cool their heels at the Constitution Club on Rafi Marg. The club is now getting a facelift and cost cutting is a no no for after all, how can our MP'S hang out in a shabby place?
A whopping Rs 7 crore has been spent on bringing up state of the art restaurant, billiards room, gymn and spa. Rs 1.5 crore for this has been donated by the BCCI, Rs 2.5 crore had been given by the Urban Development Ministry, the rest has come from politicians themselves. But that's not all. More money is expected to come from the Government.
BJP Spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy says, "The Government is not so poor. I am sure that they can give us a few crores. The rest of it is almost in place."
Congress MP Sandeep Dixit says, "Reservations on giving aid for the swimming pool and the sports complex are not justified but I am sure it will be taken care of by the Government in due course of time."
Strangely, one never sees such unity of purpose from the MPs on any other issue.
It doesn't seem that recession is really worrying these MPs. However, they are very concerned about "intellectual discussion and relaxation", as Congress MP Waseem Ahmed puts it. Congress MP Harikesh Bahadur adds, "Where will our families go? They will come here only."
Who wouldn't want to be a part of this swanky world whether it's you me or the politicians? But one thing that is plaguing the mind of the common man is whether all this infrastructure would really be put to use, considering the MPs are already sweating it out in their constituencies.
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