Meal for Rs 12, Rs 5 and Rs 1: The poverty debate
Adding to the poverty figure debate that has enraged the common man, two Congress leaders have claimed that they can have proper meal at unthinkable costs and that too in two metropolitan cities.
Congress spokesperson Raj Babbar had said it was possible to have "full meal at Rs 12 in Mumbai" even today. "No, no, not vada paav. So much of rice, daal saambhar and with that some vegetables are also mixed."
Even though his "laughable" remark drew sharp reaction from the BJP, another Congress leader claimed that Rs 5 in Delhi is sufficient for a hearty meal.
"You can eat a meal in Delhi in Rs 5, I don`t know about Mumbai. You can get a meal for Rs 5 near Jama Masjid," Rasheed Masood said.
The comments can be seen as part of the Congress` efforts to defend a report by the Planning Commission which said poverty has declined by 22 percent since the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government.
Can have full meal for Re 1: Farooq Abdullah
Asked to comment on the raging debate on poverty, Union Minister of New & Renewable Energy Farooq Abdullah, of the National Conference, said that one can have a full meal for Re 1, if desired.
However, in an age where even a bus ticket costs a minimum Rs 5 in Delhi, food for Re 1 or 5 or 12 appears to be no less than a joke.