"UP's agriculture minister doesn't know the price of pulses," Congress leader lashes out at Surya Pratap

New Delhi [India], July 10 : In a reaction to a recent statement by Uttar Pradesh's Agriculture Minister Surya Pratap Shahi over pulse prices in the state, Congress spokesperson Surendra Rajput has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders of being insensitive to the struggles of the people grappling with rising inflation.
Rajput's comments came after Shahi, during a press conference on Tuesday, claimed that pulses were not being sold for more than Rs 100 per kilogram anywhere in the state, a statement made with a laugh that has since sparked widespread criticism.
While replying to a question in a press conference on Tuesday, the minister claimed, "Nowhere in the market are the prices of pulses above Rs 100 per kg."
Reacting to the remark, Congress leader Surendra Rajput said, "Laughing at the helplessness of the people on the blow of inflation has become the work of the leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party,"
"Surya Pratap Shahi is following the same tradition when he is laughing saying that pulses are available at Rs 100 per kg. Hey Shahi ji, you have been the Agriculture Minister for seven years, it may be Modi ji. Adani sends pulses for free to the houses of other big leaders, sends pulses at Rs 100 per kg, public is getting pulses for Rs 170, media is getting pulses for Rs 170, we are also getting pulses for Rs 170."
Rajput accused the Agriculture Minister of being out of touch with the realities faced by ordinary citizens. "Even after being the agriculture minister, you do not know what is the price of pulses in Uttar Pradesh. This is a crime in itself," he said, predicting electoral repercussions for the BJP.
"The people will answer this to the Bharatiya Janata Party. Right now, the people have shown you the mirror in the Lok Sabha elections. In the coming elections, the people will completely wipe out the Bharatiya Janata Party," he said.