Bush's remarks anti-poor: BJP

New Delhi, May 3 (UNI) The BJP today dubbed US President George Bush's statement holding India's middle class higher consumption responsible for global rise in prices of foodgrains as "anti-poor and anti-people." Condemning the statement, Party spokesman Prakash Jawadekar said the worldwide demand for foodgrains had increased not only because of rise in India's population alone but also on account of rise in the world's population.

At the same time, the BJP said Mr Bush's remarks were akin to the statements of UPA government's ministers who attributed the price rise to increased food intake by the country's poor. "Mr Bush's statement is as much an alibi as is being made out by the UPA ministers," said Mr Jawadekar.

He asked both the U S President and UPA ministers if poverty and inflation had been completely tackled.

Mr Bush's remark came just days after US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice held both India and China responsible for the skyrocketing prices of foodgrains across the world.

UNI SAA GT KP 2005