P Chidambaram: According to Modi, begging is a job

New Delhi, Jan 28: Former finance minister P Chidambaram on Sunday launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi for calling a person selling pakoras "employed". Taking to Twitter, Chidambaram said that if selling pakodas is a job then the Centre should also consider begging an employment option. PM Narendra Modi, in his interview with Zee News, had said, "If a man selling pakodas outside the Zee TV office takes home Rs 200 at the end of the day, is that not employment?"

"Even selling pakodas is a 'job' said PM. By that logic, even begging is a job. Let's count poor or disabled persons who are forced to beg for a living as 'employed' people," tweeted Chidambaram. He further argued that the Centre was making wild claims about job creation. He said the government is also trying to portray that persons getting jobs under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) are employed.

PM Modi was severally criticised by leaders of other parties on his remark. While Patidar leader Hardik Patel said the PM Modi's remark showed his lack of understanding of economy, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said he has mocked unemployed youth of the country. Patel had said the suggestion could only come from tea seller, not an economist.