Congress slams CEA on 'Lutyens Delhi' remark

New Delhi:  The Congress has lashed out the Chief Economic Advisor for not putting the facts in the Economic Survey but also on the reference to "Lutyens' Delhi" in the document while comparing the affordability of a 'Thali' or plate of food.

The opposition party said that in Economic Survey "callous references" have undermined the serious exercise which is an important document.

The party said that "The repeated reference to Bollywood and callous use of terms like 'Lutyens' Delhi' does not bode well for a serious document like the Economic Survey meant to prescribe policy and present credible data."

In the Economic Survey in the 'Thalinomics' chapter the term "Lutyens' Delhi" is used which is a reference to elite and powerful circles in Delhi.

The survey while comparing the affordability of food said "Questions that can engage a dinner table conversation in Lutyens' Delhi or in a roadside 'Dhaba' in the hinterland can now be answered and positions taken on either side of a 'healthy' debate."

The Economic Survey said in that "Both across India and the four regions - North, South, East and West - it is found that the absolute prices of a vegetarian 'Thali' have decreased significantly since 2006-07 though the price has increased in 2019."

The survey also said that affordability for a 'thali' has increased but Congress questioned the data saying that food inflation has risen by 14.12 per cent.

"Using the annual earnings of an average industrial worker, it is found that affordability of vegetarian 'Thalis' improved 29 per cent from 2006-07 to 2019-20 while that for non-vegetarian 'Thalis' improved by 18 per cent," said the Economic Survey.