BJP criticises Bush comment on Indian food eating habits

New Delhi, May 4 (UNI) The BJP today strongly objected to US President George Bush's statement on Indian food eating habits as ''a gross interference in our domestic affairs.'' Party senior Vice President Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi in a press statement issued here said the US President has redefined his role from the "Global bomb inspector to that of a Global food inspector." He said the people in India'' were very agitated at the statement of the US President and would not tolerate any interference or any one to comment or advice on the Indian food eating style or habits nor they were accountable to any one for that matter.'' The Government should ask for proper clarification from the US Government on this issue, Mr Naqvi said.

He said the Government, instead of making a strong statement on this issue was trying to evade from making any comment.

''Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has truly proved that he is the PM on deputation and is just taking responsibilities like one does on deputation period,'' Mr Naquvi added.

He also said ''as the Prime Minister, it was Dr Singh's duty to uphold the national pride at any cost and he should make a strong statement on the comment of US President on Indian eating habits.'' ''There are 350 million people in India who are classified as middle class. Their middle class is larger than our entire population. And when you start getting wealth, you start demanding better nutrition and better food. And so demand is high, and that causes the price to go up,'' the US President said during a visit to World Wide Technology, Inc. in Missouri.

While commenting on the economy, President Bush said that an increase in demand worldwide had led to ''prosperity in the developing world, which is good''.

''It's going to be good for you because you'll be selling products into countries -- big countries perhaps -- and it's hard to sell products into countries that aren't prosperous. In other words, the more prosperous the world is, the more opportunity there is. It also, however, increases demand,'' Mr Bush added.

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