New Delhi: The Rangarajan Committee, which has suggested a new benchmark for describing poverty on Monday came under sharp attack from political parties, which said it amounted to "mocking at the poor" and makes neither "common sense" nor "economic sense".
The ruling BJP said it will deal with the matter at an appropriate forum of the government.
"We think that the BPL criteria figures are misleading and we will take up the issue with an appropriate forum of the government," senior BJP leader and Union Minister Uma Bharti said.
"As far the new definition of poverty given by the Rangarajan Committee is concerned it is appalling," said CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yehcury on the recommendations that a person spending above Rs 47 a day in cities and Rs 32 in rural areas should not be considered poor.
"This is a ridiculous figure. It makes neither common sense neither economic sense," he added.
The Samajwadi Party rubbished the report and took a jibe at Rangarajan, chairman of PM`s Economic Advisory Committee appointed during Manmohan Singh`s tenure.
"We will give Rs 100 to Rangarajan everyday and ask him to spend a day in a village and let him have a full meal. Then we will believe that findings of the report are correct.
"Those staying and travelling in ACs cars will not understand what poverty is. We condemn the report," SP leader Naresh Agarwal said.
BSP supremo Mayawati too attacked the report saying it amounted to "mocking at the poor".
"This is nothing but making a joke of poor people. Whatever figures that have been given and the way it has been calculated, our party does not support it," she said.
The Congress, whose government had asked the committee to undertake the task of identifying the poverty criteria, said the issue needs to be debated upon.
"We have to look at the reality. Rangarajan is an excellent economist. The report has to be debated upon and a decision has to be taken by the concerned authority," senior Congress leader and former Union Minister Veerappa Moily said.
As per the panel estimates, poverty stood at 38.2 per cent in 2009-10 and slided to 29.5 per cent in 2011-12.
