Eating sugar? No comrade!
Ruhi Tewari -
Monday, August 24, 2009 7:53 PM
At the Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPM press conference to discuss the issue of food security on Monday, journalists were served the trademark CPM tea, but with less sugar. After several journalists complained of inadequate sugar in the tea, the staff was forced to put a separate bowl with some sugar for those who wanted to add more to their tea.
The humour of the situation came to the fore during the press meet when politburo member Brinda Karat dwelled at length on sky rocketing sugar prices, saying it had become unaffordable for the common man. She added that some "big companies had made a killing" and the stock prices of major sugar companies were indeed doing "very well", despite the economic recession. She also indicated a major "sugar scandal" in the making and said a detailed study on the government's sugar policy was needed.
At the end of the briefing, when a journalist (in an attempt to make small talk, I assume) asked Karat if she had tea, she promptly quipped, "Yes, but without sugar!"
"Given the sugar prices, everyone would have to behave like patients of diabetes," she said.
Sugar prices have risen from Rs 14 per kg in 2004 to Rs 27-30 a kg now.
Apart from the regular consumer, escalating sugar prices are obviously playing on the CPM's mind too, resulting in bitter, insipid tea being served at the party offices!