Imphal Nov 26 (IANS) Manipur Minister Karam Shyam on Sunday announced that he would pedal to his office from his official residence -- less than one km apart -- every Thursday which the opposition Congress called a "publicity stunt".
Shyam called on the people to use bicycles to save on fuel adding that "if people use bicycles it will help improve the country s economy also."
The Consumer Affairs Food and Public Distribution Minister was speaking on the sidelines of a function at Mallom near here. Later he led a team of cyclists from Mallom to Keishampat around 7 km away.
Congress MLA and state party President T.N. Haokip said: Negligible fuel will be saved if he travels less than one km by cycle every week. Two four-wheelers carrying his security detail will then have to be driven slowly to match the cycle s speed which means fuel consumption will be much more than that saved on the Minister s official car."
--IANS
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