Indian minister to charge money for selfies with her

Mostafa Al Zoubi, Gulf Today

People do all kinds of stunts when they pose for selfies, some of them utterly chancy. Some pose from a cliff edge, others from the top of trains. However, these risky displays of foolhardy bravado do not come with a price tag.

But when you are in politics, perhaps, the selfie takes on a whole new meaning. That’s what happened in India, where a minister has decided to impose a tax of 100 Indian rupees ($1.34) on those who want to take selfies with her.

Usha Thakur, Minister of State for Tourism and Culture, who belongs to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in Madhya Pradesh, said taking selfies takes time and she would charge money from people who want to pose with her.

But in case doubters have ideas about the move, the money will not go into her coffers. Thakur added that the cash collected from the selfies would be sent to the Welfare Fund established by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to fight the spread of the coronavirus.