PATNA, May 15 -- Following the appeal made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for adopting austerity measures in the wake of continued crisis emanating from the war in West Asia, Bihar governor Lt Gen (Retd) Syed Ata Hasnain and Union minister of state for home (MoS) Nityanand Rai on Thursday joined a nation-wide league of dignitaries to trim their convoys to minimum during official visits. "In view of the crisis in West Asia and PM's appeal for minimum use of petrol-diesel vehicles, the governor has directed to reduce the number of vehicles included in his motorcade. Now, only three vehicles will be included in the governor's cavalcade. He has also directed the officials and personnel at the Lok Bhavan to use government vehicles only when very necessary," said a Raj Bhawan communique. MoS Rai on Thursday cut down the strength of his official cavalcade, using only two vehicles for his security personnel. The office of the MoS Nityanand Rai, a Z Category protectee, wrote to the Bihar chief secretary, requesting him to reduce the number of vehicles in the security arrangements during his visit to Bihar. In a letter to the Chief Secretary, MoS's office said, "In compliance with the appeal made by the PM regarding saving of petrol and diesel, I have been directed to say that during the visit of MoS Nityanand Rai, only one vehicle of the CRPF and one vehicle of state police should be deployed for his security arrangements." The letter has been written by Prashant Ranjan, private secretary to MoS. "Therefore, it is requested that during the Minister's visit to the districts, the vehicles from the district and police station which are used for security arrangements and escort should not be deployed," the letter read. The MoS has also written a letter to Bihar BJP president Sanjay Saraogi and asked party workers not to use vehicles in welcoming the leader during government programmes. Following PM's appeal, Bihar CM, his cabinet colleagues as well as assembly speaker have announce to reduced the size of their convoys. Meanwhile, the Bihar home department has asked IPS officers to cut down on the number of SUVs. This comes in the wake of various complaints to the CM's office and to other authorities of misuse of official SUVs by the IPS/IAS officers....