Petrol Price Hike & Corporate Canteens

The sharp increase in petrol prices announced by the oil marketing companies might have angered you. This will certainly have a great impact on inflation and very soon we may have to shell out much more for getting much less. Opposition will raise a hue and cry, but everything will fizzle out. Manmohan Singh, the greatest Prime Minister we have ever had will be meek spectator for the plunders of Kalmadi, Raja, Lalith Modi ...oh, the list is endless.

We are helpless and we must endure all these. I can offer some very good "food" for thought: (I got the following list as a mail forward, veracity not known. But, in all probability, this must be true).

Price List

• Tea Re. 1
• Soup Rs.5.50
• Dal - one katori Rs.1.50
• Veg thali (dal, subzi,4 chapatis, rice/pulao, curd and salad) Rs.12.50
• Non-veg thali Rs.22
• Curd rice Rs.11
• Veg pulao Rs.8
• Chicken biryani Rs.34
• Fish curry and rice Rs.13
• Rajma rice Rs.7
• Tomato rice Rs.7
• Fish fry Rs.17
• Chicken curry Rs.20.50
• Chicken masala Rs.24.50
• Butter chicken Rs.27
• Chapati Re.1 a piece
• One plate rice Rs.2
• Dosa Rs.4
• Kheer - one katori Rs.5.50
• Fruit cake Rs.9.50
• Fruit salad Rs.7

Where, you might wonder! The poorest of the poor in New Delhi are getting this. They are none other than our honourable MPs who got a hefty pay hike only a few months ago. Not just the parliament, many corporate canteens serve food at highly subsidized rates to the highly-paid employees. The babus and nethas know very well how to take care of themselves.

The face of the agricultural labourer at my native village readily comes to my mind. A cup of tea costs Rs 5 and that is a luxury for him. Oh God, my blood boils - I see Manmohan Singh, Sonia Gandhi & A Raja in all smiles on TV!!