New Delhi:
After getting it left, right and centre over some of the statements made by its party leaders over cheap meals, the Congress was today panned by Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati, who said that the remarks clearly showed the leaders in question had "never faced poverty in life".
Congress leaders Raj Babbar and Rasheed Masood had remarked earlier this week that one could get a full meal - consisting of rice, dal and vegetable - for Rs 12 in Mumbai and Rs 5 in Delhi.
The statements caused a huge furore and the leaders quickly expressed "regret", saying they were misinterpreted.
Speaking to reporters, Ms Mayawati said, "The leaders of the Congress party who say that a person can eat in just Rs 12 in Mumbai and Rs 5 in Delhi, I think they have never seen poverty in their whole life. I think that making such statements at a time when everything is so expensive is not a good thing to do. By doing so, they are mocking the poor and we condemn this."
The BSP supremo also addressed questions on the Food Security Bill, and said that she was satisfied with it, but disagreed over the way it was pushed through by the UPA government through an ordinance and without any discussion in Parliament.
"Our party is a supporter of the Food Security Bill passed by the central government. Poor people should get food. But I feel the way the government had passed this bill through an ordinance was wrong. But if the government would have passed this Bill by taking others in confidence and would have brought the matter to Parliament, then I feel more suggestions would have been given out," she said.