Former or farmer?

The Uttar Pradesh poll results may not be out. But for many in the Congress, especially those close to Rahul Gandhi who steered the election campaign in the state, the battle is already won. Union Minister of Rural Development Jairam Ramesh, known to be close to Gandhi, while releasing the new guidelines for the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme was asked to comment on the way the scheme was run by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati. “Former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh” — was the prompt response from the minister. A few minutes later, when he was asked another question on the “former” chief minister, he shot back in a mood to wisecrack: “Former or farmer?” Whether it was meant to be derogatory for Mayawati, he did not wait to explain. However, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, who has accused NREGS of creating a labour shortage, is unlikely to appreciate such a use of the word ‘farmer’.