Congress seeks to end cheap meals controversy

The Congress Friday sought to end the controversy around the remarks of its leaders Raj Babbar and Rashid Masood that a poor person could have a meal for Rs.12 in Mumbai and Rs.5 in Delhi.

"Raj Babbar has issued a categorical statement expressing regret. So it is better to treat the matter as closed," Congress spokesperson Renuka Chowdhury told reporters here.

Both Babbar and Masood invited sharp criticism from the opposition parties for saying that a poor person could have his meal for Rs.12 in Mumbai and Rs.5 in Delhi.

The remarks were made in view of a Planning Commission report, according to which the poverty level in the country came down during the nine years of United Progressive Alliance rule.

Union Minister of New and Renewable Energy Farooq Abdullah joined the controversy too, claiming that it was possible to have a meal at just Re.1. He said later that he was quoted out of context.

"My comments on the cost of a meal in the media have been taken out of context, but I realise that what I said may be misconstrued. I regret any hurt this may have caused," Abdullah said.