As cowbelt's staple rules at Rs 15, some in Congress offer a full meal at Rs 5

NEW DELHI: A day after Congress spokesman Raj Babbar declared that a full meal could be had for 12 in Mumbai, another party leader pegged that number further down in Delhi, drawing jeers from BJP, which mockingly said the ruling party was probably talking of "e-food".

Congress leader Rasheed Masood on Thursday said a meal could be had in parts of Delhi for 5, backing the actor-turned-politician and his party colleague's 12 rupee claim made while crediting the UPA government for bringing down poverty levels in the country. The Planning Commission had on Tuesday said poverty levels in the country had come down to 21.9% in 2011-12 from 37.2% in 2004-05.

As Babbar's comments triggered controversy, Masood threw his weight behind his colleague's claims saying "You can eat a meal in Delhi in 5, I don't know about Mumbai. You can get a meal for 5 near Jama Masjid."

As the BJP fumed, calling the comments as proof that the Congress-led UPA government was divorced from reality and was making fun of the poor, Babbar stood by his comments and provided a break-up of his 12 for a meal claim- 6 for two rotis, 5 for half plate of dal and 1 for a spoon of vegetable.

But the BJP was unconvinced, with senior leader Murli Manohar Joshi taking a dig at the Congress' comments and accused it of making fun of the poor and mislead people.