BJP minister's solution for inflation highlights 'insensitivity'

NT Correspondent

Lucknow: Pratibha Shukla, the Uttar Pradesh Minister of State for Women Development and Child Nutrition, has found herself at the centre of a heated controversy after making a statement regarding the soaring prices of tomatoes.

Addressing the issue of expensive tomatoes, Shukla suggested that people should grow the vegetable at home or refrain from consuming it altogether. Her remarks have sparked criticism and accusations of insensitivity from various quarters.

During a recent event, the Minister shared an example of a nutrition garden in Asahi village, highlighting the potential solution of planting tomatoes at home to mitigate inflation.

"We have made a nutrition garden in Asahi village, the women in the village have made a nutrition garden, and tomatoes can also be planted in it. There is a solution to this inflation, this is not new, tomatoes are expensive all the time. If you do not eat tomatoes then use lemon, whatever is more expensive, discard it, it will automatically become cheaper," she stated.

Many citizens, including local businessmen, have criticised Shukla's advice, comparing it to earlier remarks made by Nirmala Sitharaman, who had suggested that people should stop eating onions in response to their escalating prices.

The Minister's statement created a controversy with people slamming her for 'insensitivity'.

As the controversy continues to unfold, the discussion around the impact of such statements by women politicians on the public's well-being and economic struggles remains a topic of concern.