Janjivan Bureau /New Delhi : Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Sunday mocked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for asking whether or not selling pakodas could be considered a form of employment. The former Union Minister said that by that logic, begging was a job too.
The BJP said the comparison, made between the “livelihood of millions of hardworking Indians from humble background(s)” to begging, betrayed the Congress’ “perpetual disdain for the poor.”
“(The) Congress Party has still not accepted the historic mandate given by India in favour of a hard-working and honest ‘chaiwalla’ over the corrupt and dynasts,” the ruling party said in a message posted on Twitter.
Be prepared for an assault on our commonsense by wild claims of job creation by the government.
– P Chidambaram, senior Congress leader and former Union minister
Chidambaram’s comment, which also came in a series of tweets, was a reference to a remark Prime Minister Modi made during a TV interview: “If a person selling pakodas (snacks) earns Rs 200 at the end of the day, will it be considered employment or not?”
Chidambaram asked his social media followers to be “prepared for an assault on our common sense by wild claims of job creation by the government.”
“Real job creation will be reflected by robust increase in private investment, private consumption, exports and credit demand. Not happening yet,” he wrote.
Later in the day, he said it was important to “keep the distinction between ‘job’ and ‘self employment’.”
“A ‘job’ is certain, regular and reasonably secure. We want to know how many such jobs have been created,” he said.
