'Those Calling Inflation A National Calamity Should Quit Food,' Says Chhattisgarh BJP MLA; Clarifies Later
Talking to reporters on Thursday, Chhattisgarh BJP MLA said: "If the inflation is a national calamity, then I think those who are calling it so should stop eating and drinking. They should quit food and stop using petrol."
Raipur: Chhattisgarh BJP MLA and former state minister Brijmohan Agrawal stoked controversy with his remarks on complains regarding inflation. He said that those who call inflation a national calamity should stop eating food and using petrol.
A video of the MLA's statement has been widely shared on social media platforms.
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Talking to reporters on Thursday, Agrawal said: "If inflation is a national calamity, then I think those who are calling it so should stop eating and drinking. They should quit food and stop using petrol."
"I think if Congress members and those who vote for Congress do so, the inflation would automatically come down," he added.
The ruling Congress party has termed this statement as "shameful". In its response, the party quipped that the day is not far when the saffron party will ask those who oppose the centre to leave the country.
With the video and remarks garnering more attention, BJP MLA Brijmohan Agrawal issued a clarification on Friday. "While interacting with reporters, I satirically made a statement that if Congressmen stop eating and using petrol, inflation would decline as the state Congress chief had termed inflation as a national calamity," he said.
He added that he did not intend to ask anyone to stop having food or using petrol, stating that he made the comment in a lighter vein while speaking to reporters after a press meet.
Meanwhile, Chhattisgarh Congress's communication wing in charge Shailesh Nitin Trivedi has criticised Agrawal's remarks, saying that the BJP can't even realise the pain of people who are bearing the brunt of the price hike.
"Making such a vague statement is very shameful. They will later say that those who oppose the centre should quit India," he said.
Meanwhile, Congress leaders and workers plan to stage a state-wide protest on Saturday against the union government over the issue of inflation and price hike.
(With Agency Inputs)
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