Congress on Wednesday strongly condemned the reported comments of BJP leader Prabhat Jha that tomato was not a poor man's vegetable and said the remarks were reflection of the Centre's "total failure" to rein in the skyrocketing prices of the vegetable.
In a joint statement, Delhi Pradesh Congress Chief Arvinder Singh and chief spokesperson Mukesh Sharma said the comments were insulting to the people of Delhi and demanded an apology from BJP.
"The comments were not only insulting. They were like rubbing salt to the wounds. Jha should tender an unconditional apology to the people of Delhi," Singh and Sharma said.
Both the Congress leaders alleged that the hoarders were having a good time in Delhi under the protection of a section of the BJP leaders.
"The comments reflected justification of the price rise of the vegetable which is condemnable," said Singh and Sharma.
Sharma said if Jha does not tender an unconditional apology, Congress workers would be forced to start an agitation against him.
Tomato prices have gone upto Rs 80 per kg in retail vegetable markets in the city.
Traders at Azadpur Mandi in the national capital attribute the rise in prices to a substantial drop in supplies from the northern region and high prices in other areas in anticipation of drought.
There has been a steep fall in supplies this year from Himachal Pradesh, which is the major supplier of tomato to northern parts of the country.
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