BJP slams proposal to give free mobile phones to BPL families

SHIMLA: Himachal Pradesh BJP on Sunday slammed UPA government's proposed scheme to distribute free mobile phones to BPL families, saying it was a "cruel joke" on poor people whose daily income ranged between Rs 26 to 32.

"The proposed move to launch the scheme on Independence Day (August 15) simply reflects the perversity and mental bankruptcy of the UPA government whose priority is not food and shelter to the poor but luxuries like mobile phones," party spokesperson Ganesh Dutt said.

"BJP welcomes modern technology and wants that it should reach every individual, but giving mobile phones to people who are without any employment and finding it difficult to make both ends meet is a cruel joke on them," he added.

Asking the Centre to "re-fix" its priorities and make them poor-oriented, Dutt said the UPA government should first make policies for socio-economic upliftment and provide food, shelter and employment, rather than giving "toys" (mobile phone) to the poor.