Chidammbaram says deliberate distortion of his remarks

The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) took a dig at Chidambaram saying the sarcasm was not expected from a cultured and educated man.

"I wish the common man in India was as prosperous as Chidambaram. I did not expect this kind of sarcastic remark from a cultured and educated man like Chidambaram," party spokesperson D P Tripathi said.

Talking to reporters in Bangalore yesterday, Chidambaram had said people were ready to pay Rs 15 for a bottle of water and Rs 20 for a cone ice cream, but protested against rise in prices of wheat and rice.

"You are prepared to pay Rs 15 for a bottle of water, but we will not pay a one rupee increase in the price of a kilo of rice or a kilo of wheat. We are prepared to pay 20 rupees for an ice cream cone but we will not pay one rupee more for a kilo of rice or wheat," he had said.

He was replying to a question on the plight of the middle class in view of high food inflation and price rise.

Following the attack, the Home Ministry today came out with a statement. "He (Chidambaram) is shocked and disgusted by the deliberate distortion of the relevant question and answer at the media briefing in Bangalore on 10.7.2012."

"The Home Minister made a matter-of-fact statement and he did not mock or chide anyone. If the interview is viewed, it will be seen that he spoke in a matter-of-fact manner," it said.

Defending Chidambaram, Congress said he was quoted out of context.

"It was taken absolutely out of context. It shows we are not able to synthesise and put it together. Chidambaram has already clarified and there is nothing more that I can contribute, add or subtract," party spokesperson Renuka Chowdhary said.

BJP used the opportunity to attack the UPA by terming it as "heartless and insensitive" and asked it to stop playing such "ugly jokes" on the people. (MORE)