Union Minister Birender Singh's 'prosperous' remark invites criticism from Khaps

AMROHA: In an attempt to defend BJP-led NDA government of being branded as "Suit-boot Ki Sarkaar", Union Minister for Rural Development Chaudhary Birender Singh said if a tea-vendor can live "suited-booted" than we can say we are prosperous.

"Jab Chai bechane wala suited-booted reh sakta hai, toh hum toh prosperous hai," (If a tea-vendor can remain suited-booted then we belong to prosperous family)," Singh said during an interaction with farmers in Gajraula here, organised to make them understand about the actions and policies of union government for farmers.

He said that sons of farmers should not join army or pursue career in farming, they should make career in other fields and become prosperous like them.

"We are also from farmer's family but live a prosperous life," he said, adding that he was grandson of Sir Chhotu Ram.

During the interaction, he asked the farmers to guess the price of his shoes. When they failed to reply after several attempts, he then said the pair was purchased for Rs 48,000 from Jaipur.

Indicating his wrist watch, he said it costs several lakhs of rupees.

"Amroha MP Tanwar is more prosperous than me and farmers should adopt lifestyle like us," he said.

Singh claimed that his identity was not due to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as he had been elected to Parliament and state Assembly several times being a member of Congress.

Speaking about the land acquisition bill, he said, "I adviced Sonia Gandhi but she did not listen to it, so I left Congress."

He claimed that the bill was in favour of farmers and not against them. The government was paying much more money, he added.

Interestingly when the farmers asked questions, he left the dias and did not responded to their queries.

Meanwhile, khap representatives of Bangar area in Jind expressed their displeasure over Singh's remark saying when farmers were unable to feed themselves two square meal a day, when they were facing crop loss due to unseasonal rains, then such statement from the Union Minister shows that he was not concerned about the farmers' problem.

They said, they would launch a movement to bring the reality of farmers to fore.