Representative image | Photo Credit: Indiatimes

Chandigarh: An RTI reply has revealed that the Manohar Lal Khattar-led government bought copies of the Bhagavad Gita at almost Rs 38,000 each to be given as gifts to VVIPs during the International Gita Mahotsav organized in 2017.

The government spent a total of almost Rs 3.8 lakh on buying ten copies of the Gita when normal copies are sold at a cost of around Rs 150-250 in shops across the country. Sources told the Times of India that 'special' copies were made for the event using expensive paper that made the holy book look like ancient manuscripts.

10 #Gita purchased for Rs. 3,79,500 By .@mlkhattar Govt. At #gitajayanti



Wah .@narendramodi ji what an Honest government we have in #Haryana.



Gita ke naam pe bhi chori

Uper Se Sina Jori #Scam .@cmohry pic.twitter.com/iUYsVQ3di4 — Dushyant Chautala B- (@Dchautala) January 7, 2018

During the programme, actors-turned-politicians Hema Malini and Manoj Tiwari, who performed at the event, were given hefty amounts as ‘fees’ for their performances. The state paid Rs 15 lakh to Hema Malini for her musical dance drama performance and Rs 10 lakh to Manoj Tiwari for his cultural programme.

Hisar resident Rahul Sehrawat, who filed the RTI query, has claimed that the response only accounts for expenses of Rs 4.32 crores, while reportedly around Rs 15 crore was sanctioned for the event.

Sehrawat is planning to file an appeal and get details of the remaining expenses.

The Opposition has lashed out at the Khattar government for this splurge but the state has claimed that such expenses are ‘necessary.’

The Times of India has reported that the Haryana CM has stated that the expenses were incurred after much deliberation and that they would “continue” to spend money in such a manner.

The event was held from November 25 to December 3, 2017, and was attended by President Ram Nath Kovind, Union minister Uma Bharti, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, Governors of Haryana and Himachal Pradesh and others.