'Congress Thinks PM's Chair Belongs To Them': Pralhad Joshi Hits Back After Siddaramaiah's 'Neech' Comment

Pralhad Joshi's remarks came in the wake of CM Siddaramaiah lashing out at the Centre calling it “inhumane and anti-poor” amid the row over supply of rice to Karnataka.

New Delhi: Hitting back at Karnataka Chief Minster Siddaramaiah over his outburst at the BJP-led Centre on the supply of rice to the state, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi on Thursday said the Congress was “jealous” of Prime Minister Narendra Modi occupying the country’s highest office as they reckon that the Gandhi family has the sole ownership of the prime ministerial chair, news agency ANI reported.

His remarks came in the wake of CM Siddaramaiah lashing out at the Centre calling it “inhumane and anti-poor”. Terming the saffron party as “neech” (despicable), he said when he assumed the office of the chief minister, he had written to the Food Corporation of India (FCI) for supply of rice under the Anna Bhagya scheme. He alleged that although the FCI had agreed, the Centre denied it.

Slamming CM Siddaramaiah for his remarks, Joshi told ANI, “Siddaramaiah and Congress party have tried to call PM Modi 'Neech'. Since PM Modi comes from a poor background, the Congress party is jealous of him and they think they have the sole ownership of the country’s highest office. They think the chair belongs to the Gandhi family.”

“The whole country is facing a drought situation. The rice stock is depleting and that is why we have banned its export. The price of rice is surging. Many BJP-ruled states are also demanding rice but we haven’t been able to supply the food crop. The 'neech' word used by the Congress is an example of their 'Ghamand’ (arrogance),” Joshi added.

READ | 'Neech, Inhumane': Siddaramaiah Slams Centre Over Supply Of Rice To Karnataka

Earlier in the day, addressing an event at Tumakuru district to mark the completion of 10 years of 'Ksheera Bhagya' scheme, Siddaramaiah, as quoted by ANI said, “Prior to the election, I had said that I would give the people of the state 5 kg over and above what you're getting, as the previous government had reduced free rice to just 5 kg. We wrote to the FCI to purchase rice from them. They assured us that they were ready to provide the rice. But the Centre denied us to provide rice. Is the BJP pro-poor? No, they are not. We did not ask for rice for free. We were ready to pay for it. We were ready to pay Rs 36 per kg for rice. All of you must decide how ‘neech’ (despicable) they are. They are anti-poor. They are inhumane.”