The Haryana government on Friday announced that various facilities, including cabinet minister status, for former chief ministers would be withdrawn.The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar here on Friday.Other facilities include a government bungalow, official car, staff and other facilities to which cabinet ministers are entitled to."In view of the resentment among the public and political parties on the facilities of cabinet minister to ex-chief ministers at state headquarters, the state government has decided to withdraw these facilities," a government spokesman said after the meeting.The facilities were extended to former chief ministers by the Congress-led government in May 2013.
Terming the facilities a "burden on the state exchequer", Haryana's leader of opposition Abhay Chautala last week urged the government to withdraw the same.In a letter to Khattar, the Indian National Lok Dal leader said the facilities were extended to ex-chief ministers by the previous Congress government headed by Bhupinder Singh Hooda towards the fag end of its term. "The step was nothing but misuse of his position by Hooda for vested interests. He did this so that he could keep enjoying facilities which he got as chief minister even when out of power. This is an unnecessary burden on the state exchequer," Chautala added.Hooda remained chief minister of Haryana for two consecutive terms (2005-2009 and 2009-2014).