New Delhi: A Jaguar XE has become the talk of the town here after it became the official car of Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan.
The Lok Sabha Secretariat said the luxury car was purchased and allotted to the Speaker due to security considerations.
The Jaguar cost the Lok Sabha Secretariat Rs 48.25 lakhs.
The development has already raised eyebrows with the opposition Congress asking the Speaker to reconsider using the luxury car.
Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari said the Speaker should decide whether it would be "prudent" to go for such a vehicle when one-third of the country was facing an acute agricultural distress.
D Bhalla, Secretary in the Lok Sabha Secretariat, said the Jaguar XE was the "most affordable option" car among the four-five options suggested keeping in mind the security concerns for the Speaker.
"This is not an overnight purchase. It is a decision of the LS secretariat after advice by the security. All information is available on our files. It is a transparent decision," Bhalla said.
In the Indian set-up, the Lok Sabha speaker enjoys privileges equivalent to the Chief Justice of India and the post is sixth in line after President, Vice President, Prime Minister, governors, former presidents and Deputy Prime Minister, as per protocol.
