Today, BJP President Amit Shah gave his maiden speech in the Rajya Sabha and said selling pakodas (fritters) is better than begging. Shah was trying to give the message that any job is better than being unemployed.
Shah said, “Some people are saying things about selling pakodas. I also read P. Chidambaram’s tweet. Yes, I agree that selling pakodas is better than being unemployed.” He further added, “Making and selling pakodas is not shameful, but equating it with begging is certainly shameful.”
The BJP President stated as the Opposition hooted, “Today if a person is earning livelihood by selling pakodas, tomorrow his son would become a big industrialist. A tea vendor’s son can became the Prime Minister of this country.”
In an interview before the Budget Session PM Modi said a person earning Rs. 200 for selling pakodas in a day can be considered employed. This claim caused widespread unrest with the Opposition calling it a cruel joke and is as good as begging.
Senior Congress Leader P. Chidambaram tweeted, “Even selling pakodas is a ‘job’, said PM. By that logic, even begging is a job. Let’s count poor or disabled persons who are forced to beg for a living as ’employed’ people.”
Amit Shah went on to blame the 55 year long Congress rule for the Nationwide unemployment. He said, “It was Congress government in the country for 55 years. We have been in power for only seven to eight years. This problem (unemployment) would not have become so humongous if effective steps were taken during those 55 years.”
The BJP President concluded by saying PM Modi’s Government inherited a big crater. Adding that most of the time the Government is using its resources to fill the crater it inherited.
