Under fire from the Opposition and some UPA constituents over his remarks about the objection raised by consumers to the inevitable hike in the prices of some food commodities, Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram on Wednesday said he “is shocked and disgusted by the deliberate distortion of the relevant question and answer.”
The Opposition parties have charged Mr. Chidambaram with being “heartless and insensitive” to the middle class, protesting his remarks that people paid for mineral water and ice cream but objected to a hike in rice and wheat prices.
The Janata Dal (United) said the truth had “accidentally” come out from the mouth of a “supporter” of market forces.
The Nationalist Congress Party, a UPA constituent, also took exception to the Minister’s remarks. “I wish the common man in India was as prosperous as Chidambaram. I did not expect this kind of a sarcastic remark from a cultured and educated man like Chidambaram,” said NCP spokesperson D.P. Tripathi.
The Minister, on his part, insisted that he did not ‘mock’ or ‘chide’ anyone and that he spoke matter-of-factly.
Mr. Chidambaram said his response was to a query on food inflation, at a news conference in Bangalore on Tuesday, and that he gave an elaborate answer on how a hike in procurement prices inevitably led to higher food prices. It was against this background that he had said, “Sometimes, and I have written about this once, we are prepared to pay fifteen rupees for a bottle of water but we will not bear one rupee increase in the price of a kilo of wheat or a kilo of rice. We are prepared to pay rupees twenty for an ice cream cone but won’t pay one rupee more for a kilo of wheat or rice.”
Bharatiya Janata Party chief spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said it was unfair on the part of the Home Minister to accuse the media of distorting his statement when the whole country saw and heard what he had said. The Home Minister’s comment was akin to rubbing salt into the wound of the common man, in whose name the Congress came to power, Mr. Prasad said.
“Mr. Chidambaram, kindly tell the country what is the cost of a thali [set meal] for a common man. You venture out in Delhi itself and you will know,” Mr. Prasad said. He wanted to know if a mother taking her child to India Gate to have ice cream was a crime.
“Chidambaram is showering insult and humiliation on the common man,” Mr. Prasad alleged, adding this government had ruined the economy and the people were bearing the onslaught of its corruption and price rise.
JD (U) president and NDA convener Sharad Yadav said: “It is right. What wrong did he [Chidambaram] say? But Chidambaram is also a supporter of market forces and that is why he used the ice cream imagery. How many poor [people] eat ice cream? In fact, a small truth has accidentally come out from the mouth of a supporter of market forces while he was actually trying to defend them.”
Mr. Yadav said he was surprised at noises being made about the prices of foodgrains and vegetables only, when prices of all commodities used by the common man were on the rise.
“Nobody talks about rise in the prices of television, refrigerator and car. But when foodgrain prices rise, people make noise. Even in the case of foodgrains, the farmer gets a pittance while the middlemen are the actual beneficiaries. It is the government’s job to check such middlemen.”
Mr.Chidambaram statement reveals the sad state of paying Rs.15 for a liter of drinking water, when the governments job is ensure safe and
free drinking water to public.No one is going to buy these bottle when
our public places boost with hygiene drinking water facilities.Most of
all,once in a while in a scorching heat i m forced to buy these
drinking bottle to quench my thirst,but i need to feed my family
thrice a day with that rice.
Politicians are day by day becoming disconnected with the general
public and Mr.Chidambaram is no exception.
Mr.Chidambaram has closed his eyes and stopped observing the middle class people of India. An average family of 4 consumes 30kgs of rice per month and they go out to have an ice cream once in 3 or 4 monthson average. He should have considered all these facts before making such a ridiculous comments. By saying so he is stating that a common middle class man cannot and should not go for any vacation or a holiday. He has to be reminded that a middle man saves his earning for years to go for vacation. Thus how come he had compared having icecream and rice should be known to his discreetion. This kind of insensitive nature towards middle class people who are still citizens of India show how much he knows about his own country people and what scant respect does he have towards citizens of India particularly poor and middle class people.Instead he could have told that by increasing Rs.1 per kg of rice that would be helpful to farmers. This is not an expected behaviour from him.
The cursed "middle class" pays water tax and yet regular water supply is not assured and the court declares that the consumers can not refuse to pay tax even if there is no water supply. This being the case, people are forced to "buy" water from private sources after paying their dues to the govt. for non-supply! Yet the hon. minister mocks at the "middle class". Wonder if he has ever stood in the line at the Metrowater office to pay the water tax dues for water not supplied.
Recently, the price of vegetables shot up and for example beans sold at Rs. 80 to Rs. 90/kg. How much of this went to the cultivator? What about all the grains rotting in the godowns? Instead of attenting to the peoples' (middle, lower and what not) basic requirements this govt. indulges in socially catchy phrases such as inclusive growth etc. for short-term electoral gains.
A classic example of much ado about nothing. It is clear that
Chidambaram's comment was aimed at the mineral-water popping, ice-cream
eating middle class and not at people who cannot afford their daily
rice. The way people comment, it makes one wonder if they expect the
Government to do all their dirty work for them, and feed them and
clothe them for naught.
I wish i have an option not to pay income tax and buy more ice-cream and mineral water for myself. I wish more to recall such elected politicians.
What a dole out of the MG-NREGA from the 'middle class' tax money. UPA has in one stroke killed agriculture and made the labour out of reach for small and medium agriculturists. only MNCs can afford to pay the labour rates now and they would prefer only mechanised way of working. No wonder the price of basic commodities have quadrupled due to limited agricultural output. It is a win-win for the politicians and the MNCs. The agricultural land has to be sold at throw away prices because agriculture would not be sustainable. Politicians will hoard land and sell it to multinational companies at an unimaginable premium.
We cant even eat rats and rodents for survival because there wont be any land left to support rodents.
Does anyone including the opposition have the guts to call the bluff of MG-NREGA.
I am sick and tired of the bouquets and brickbats - be it for the
ruling government or the opposition. Undoubtedly, the rulers are the
elite, rich and powerful - from their ivory tower, how would they know
what power cuts, food shortages, runaway inflation, homelessness and
lawlessness are? This democracy of ours is a sham - politicians come
to power, making promises that they break. Once in power, they
couldn't care less about the common man. Chidambaram is no different.
He is a suave politician, but that's the only thing different.
Do we have a solution? Yes we do. Let's forget buzz words like macro
economics and globalization. We need a long term solution- that won't
happen unless we stop this runaway growth in population. As long as
there are more takers than the resources we have, inflation is here is
to stay. Does anyone in civil society care? The answer is a resounding
"NO!".
Unless we do something about it our problems will stay with us.It is
that pure and simple!
Who says that food article price rose by only Rs 1-2??? Chidambram who lives in govt bunglow & gets everything delivered free at his home is insensitive to the core. I earn Rs15000/month living in Gurgaon supporting a family of 5 & it really pains when I have to buy Fruits @ Rs100-200/kg, Vegetables @ Rs60-100/kg, Petrol @ Rs70/litre. Why dont we get fruits @ Rs20-30/kg, vegetables @ Rs10-15/kg & Petrol @ Rs40/litre like it was when I started working in 2003 @ Rs10000/month salary.
Its a real shame. We buy water becoz of the lack of proper safe drinking water. Not becoz Rs.15/- is a small amount. Ice creams are a treat, and treats are rare, so no one cribs about them. But rice and dal is eaten daily and that too in large quantities, so their price rise hurts. Have some common sense guys... You dont eat 10 icecreams daily, so it wont matter to you wat their price is. But in a family of four a quarter kg of rice is cooked for one meal, 30 days a month. So the price rise pinches. It doesent bother PC, becoz he has more money, than he or his family is ever going to use. What was misquoted. Every one understood what he meant. A person who earns Rs 15000/- a month (much much above the BPL) , also finds it difficult to make two ends meet.. and he has the gumption to make comments like that. We expected better from you PC.
An ice-cream is every child's desire and delight whether rich or poor!
Parents are compelled to buy ice-cream for the child irrespective
whether they can afford it or not. Anyway, why the ice-cream cone should
cost RS.20 in the first place, why it can not be cheaper?
India has a 300,000,000 emerging middle-class and if they can only add
on Rs 1.00 to wheat at an average of 5 persons per family that is
60,000,000 middle class families and if they are to consume on average
10 kilograms of wheat and wheat flour per month that would come to 6
crores added on to the farmers who indeed are not ice cream suckers
and by the year would add on 72 crores. This money if properly
distributed without being hijacked by the middlemen the farmers can
really sea a big increase in their wallets. Chidambaram has a good
point that has been misinterpreted for political gains by the NCP.
I wish the Home Minister, PC were more sensitive and sensible before he
made this comment that too while talking about life and death issue like
food price hike on rice, wheat etc.
Same is the case with his hasty comments on Sarkeguda, Chattisgarh,
killings. He could have checked the facts, at least with his colleague,
Kishore Deo. Very sorry state of affairs.
it is a matter of great concern for all indians dat after 65 years of
independence we are still fighting for drinking water n basic
facilities. how many indians can buy a rs 15 water bottle n taste ice cream cone
cost rs 20. just think n reply to our ownselves.
It is true that we are pained at price increases.but candidly speaking,petrol increases(while
keeping diesel prices in check),is a measure to insulate, the common
man.Mr.chidambaram spoke in a particular context, and the comment should not be
quoted out of context.
We all wish that the "profiteering", by middle -man is checked through stringent measures
and closer scrutiny.let us take the autos in chennai,who fleece travelling public.the previous
state government ,as well as the current government are not interested in checking the mal-
practice.
No ..no, its not Mr. Chidambaram's mistake, He is just a politician.
Who may have been a middle class person, or criminal, or dynastic
politicians or what ever.
They have nothing to do with Common people, its like a farmer raising
chickens or goats, those will be culled based on their selection.
What the wrong with Mr.Chidambaram's remark? I agree with him. He specifically talks about the Middle class people . People are prepared to more for water but not for food. The media wants to make an issue of every thing.
BJP is acting like a whinning child who want to cry at every thing.I am from middle class and what Mr Chidambram stated is absolutely correct. We, the middle class, are very selfish and self centred. We dont want to go and stand in a queue to cast our vote but are most vocal critics of politicians. I remember when a hijacked IA plane was taken to Kandahar, the families of the passengers practically gheroed the PM and forced the Govt to release dreaded terrorists in return for safe return of their beloved ones and our than Defence Minister, Jaswant Singh, accompanied the three terrorists to Kanadhar in a plane. Govt wanted to get tough but our middle class said they preferred the lives of their family members than national honour. It is same middle class that was not worried about life of Jawans in Kargil war few months before !!! We buy a 25 Lac car but dont want to pay one rupee more for diesel.NO wonder we are going nowhere with populist politics.
Middle class people are skilled in Managing their Home & Finance departments of their
Homes?
As they They are the ones who support the housing business, Maybe they will get blamed
for the home loan interest rates and the support provides to the banking industry. May God
be kind enough to pardon them for these actions also?
PC, the calories comes from rice. Water is zero calories and your govt has not provided drinking water to a lot of people in the country. What a shame?
What is the use of a governemnt that cannot provide good drinking water
and then blame people for buying clean water? Buying water is an added
burden on the middle-class, in this context, the government should
lower the prices of essential commodities.
It is just a matter of time that entire middle-class in India is
declared Maoists and classified the greatest internal threat along with
the tribals.
He needs lesson on economics and marginal utility, a shameful statement coming from a learned
leader. He should know that rice and ice cream has different marginal utility and moreover a family
spends a higher % of their disposable income on basic needs like rice. It is similar to saying - If tomorrow
salt costs you INR 250, INR 250 is almost parallel to a slice of pizza. He has also clearly neglected the
cascading effect of rice increase on basic daily use items.
A DAY OF SHAME FOR INDIAN ECONOMY !! :(
Chidambram comment showed that govt is not serious for inflation as we can buy mineral water and ice cream. So congress is waiting to hike price of water and ice cream. Is it a joke.
With this view that people can buy mineral water and ice cream you r free with ur responsibility and go for a sleep.
For this he will be awarded the Finance Ministry during the cabinet shuffle.
I believe Chidambaram is right that political parties protest rise in Paddy prices. One of the major problem that affects the farmers is the cost of farming is higher than the cost of selling price. When inflation has moved up, so are the labour cost. Its simply difficult to farm. Are we ready to import rice for a large country like India? Who pays for the subsidies? Its all of us and that includes farmers. Wake up my dear!! Let us govern the subsidies with intelligence.
The Ministers, from whichever party they may come, are famous [or, is
it infamous?] for making loose comments without realising what they
actually mean. There is no difference between UPA or NDA ministers in
this. The utterance of the former FM stating that the people spend
more on water is an admission of the fact that the policies of the
various governments, let it be, NDA, UPA-I AND UPA-II are the reason
for making water a commercial commodity. The mad rush for adopting LPG
in the name of economic reforms has resulted in EDUCATION & HEALTH
sectors becoming a thriving business for "big bosses" and even safe
drinking water has to be purchased. The natural resources are
converted into commercial products to benefit MNCs and the Indian
business houses owing to the anti-poor neo economic policies. For this
Chidambarams, Manmohan Singhs, Sonias, Vajpayees, Sinhas, Advanis,
Aluwalias, et al are all responsible. The poor voters have to, every
now and then, bear the brunt of verbal attack such as this. A day will
surely come when the situation will drastically change and the powers-
that-be would realise their folly.
With such arrogant and selfish Ministers like Chidambaram and his ilk in the UPA
Government the middle class people will always be at the receiving end. It is a
cruel joke on the part of the Minister to make such disparaging remarks like
consuming ice-cream and mineral water against a vast majority of the people
whom he unashamedly approaches for their vote at the time of the election. Let us
not forget that we,belonging to the middle class, are all human beings and so let
us show our fellowmen some love and compassion in these difficult times instead
of rubbing salt to injury. The people will no doubt remember these unwarranted
remarks against them and will return the 'compliment' in the next elections
which is not far-off.
Thanks to BJP for responding to this. As a middleclass man, I do not mind or waste time on current UPA government(policy paralysis govt) because the people from OUTSIDE INDIA thinks this way; "Indian minister is like BLIND MAN IS TRYING TO CATCH A BLACK CAT IN A DARK ROOM". That means the Minister is a person who knows least or nothing about the department that he/she is heading for.
Ministers should be careful when making statements. Please do not look down upon us. It is true we are not as rich as you are. The haughtiness of people in authority is an evil. It is good there are people who bring them to their senses and teach them the value of humility. We must bear the burdens of others and serve humanity.
These politicians are standing on egg shells, which has no legs to stand. They do no understand that they are there only due to these common man.
Granted that middle class can afford 1 rupee more for rice, what about millions in lower and
under class? Can they? Cheap diesel rich can enjoy in the shelter of poor but can poor get
cheap rice?
the Home minister is showing his actual face, the kind of personality and mentality he bears... he should have been set free in between the common people who would teach him how it matters buying water bottle and ice-cream. this is really a tragedy for this nation that we have kind of leaders who do not bothers about the common man needs....
After successfully easing out Pranabda,Chidambaram has gone back to his
old arrogant behavior. Within a week he has made so many damaging
statements. The pity is that the PM has no control over his minister. MMS has been forced to appoint
PC as the head of the 2G EGOM. Very soon you will find him as the FM.
He has already started making statements on finance matters, which is an
indication of his becoming the FM.
It is true that the news papers are exaggerating what he said.
The point of increasing the price of Re. 1 is good and acceptable if it truly benefits the Agriculturists.
But the example he quoted is very very shameful.
Before making such comment he should think Mineral Water or Ice cream is not a mandatory requirement of day-to-day life of all middle class people.
He should also have considered the Madake Singh recommendation of monthly income and the impact of Re 1 per kg how will affect the life.
Shameful minister.
Are citizens getting exasperated with the Opposition Parties?
Sure, silly remarks, particularly by senior Ministers, need commenting
upon, including the 'motivation' behind such remarks (was it to
deflect criticisms on the main debate?). But, if the Opposition takes
‘the bait’ every time and raises a brouhaha about everything, without
discriminating what is important, then citizens may get blasé about
the interventions and may stop listening!!
At this critical juncture, when the economy is in dire straits while
half the population still in abject poverty, national
plunder/corruption astronomically high,
accountability/transparency/good governance practically non-existent,
democratic institutions/ judiciary / law & order subverted and
‘executive check & balance’ illusory, democratic rights seriously
eroded, citizens totally fed up, CAN THE OPPOSITION DO ANY BETTER THAN
SNAP AT THE HEELS?
HOW ABOUT inspiring the nation with Vision, Strategy, Policies, A Way
Forward, HOPE and LEADERSHIP??
The Home Minister of the country virtually laughs at the plight of the common people struggling their way through life! The Utterly Perilous Attitude of the UPA government as a whole on matters of importance to the common people should make it easier for the opposition to gain power in 2014.
Both Mr. Chiadambaram and Mr. Ravishankar Prasad seem to know very little about India. Mr. Prasad thinks that those who go to India Gate for ice cream are middle class. More than 90 percent people in India do not drink mineral water and more than 80 percent people do not eat ice cream.
In every government office, we hang the photograph of India’s president and prime minster. In between the two, we should hang a table showing income and asset distribution for each decile of the population now and in 1947. These four simple tables would remind everyone that India was being run by people whose ignorance is boundless. Every news paper should publish these tables every week, if not every day. And every TV news programme should begin with them at least once a week.
BJP need not have to respond to each and every statement from UPA Ministers. Common people are very happy with Congress party lead govt. due to which they are electing them time and again. I can say with confidence that these common Indians elect congress again in 2014 with a thumping majority otherwise they have no future. What they want is to have enough money to buy Water,Air,Food and other resources for survival.
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