Protesting against the BJP led Central and Haryana Government’s poor track record in employment generation, Haryana Congress MlAs on Tuesday sold ‘pakodas’ on a cart at a road near the State Assembly in Sector 1 here.
The Congress MlAs were carrying placards, which had pictures of top BJP leaders and Ministers in the Manohar lal Khattar cabinet and besides them rates of 'pakodas' were displayed on the side of the photos of the BJP leaders.
As Congress leaders were busy offering 'pakodas' to people who passed by, the Chief Minister Manohar lal Khattar who was on his way to attend the ongoing Haryana Assembly’s budget session, stopped his cavalcade and got down from his vehicle.
Khattar even purchased small quantity of ‘pakodas’ from the Congress MlAs.
“If anyone is getting employment by selling 'pakodas', then it is a good thing. They (Congressmen) have become unemployed, now they have got the 'pakoda' selling job, which is a good thing,” said the Chief Minister in a lighter vein, while taking a swipe at the Congress legislators selling 'pakodas'.
Congress MlAs, including their state legislature party leader Kiran Choudary, Karan Dalal, Geeta Bhukkal, Kuldeep Sharma, Shakuntala Khatak among others were seen selling 'pakodas' on a 'rehri' (cart).
Holding the 'pakodas' in a basket, the Congress legislators also tried to march towards the Assembly but they were stopped by the police. MlA Shakuntala Khatak was allegedly manhandled by police while trying to sell pakodas to passersby.
Karan Dalal, while talking to the mediapersons alleged that the Centre and Haryana Governments had promised to create large number of jobs for the unemployed. But now they are assuring 'pakoda jobs' to millions of people looking for work, said he.
For BJP leaders, even people earning Rs 200 a day selling 'pakodas' are considered unemployed, which is a cruel joke, Dalal said.
later during the question hour in the House, the BJP and INlD legislators were seen taking a dig at Congress’ protest.
Haryana’s Agriculture Minister O P Dhankar taking a jibe at the Congress legislators selling 'pakodas', said their party is in the habit of "insulting poor."
He slammed Congress for being elitist and looking down on those belonging to humble backgrounds.
“First they made joke of a tea seller, now they are doing the same thing with the poor people selling 'pakodas' for a living. They have elitist mentality and cannot tolerate 'chaiwalas' (tea seller) and 'pakorawalas',” Dhankar said.