Terming as "very obnoxious" US President George W Bush's remarks that improving food habits of Indians was leading to global food crisis, CPI(M) today said they reflected "imperialist arrogance" which wanted the developing world to starve so that developed nations could thrive.
"It is a clear reflection of imperialist arrogance which wants the people of Third World to starve and remain in malnutrition so that they (US) prospers. This is not at all acceptable," CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury said here.
He said if the vast majority of the global populace "improved their consumption, then their (US) share of the cake will be reduced. That is their fear."
"Utter ignorance" of global realities has been expressed by Bush", he said, adding 80 per cent of Indians lived with an income level of less than Rs 20 a day.
"To say that rise in their consumption was leading to world food crisis and upward trend in prices was totally wrong, atrocious and unrelated to facts", Yechury said.
Yechury also said global food prices could be affected only if India's contribution to the world food market was high. "But it is only 0.3 per cent, not even half a per cent."
Earlier, party General Secretary Prakash Karat had said the statements by Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice had added "insult to injury" to millions of people in India who suffered from malnutrition.
He had said the US policy of subsidising and promoting biofuel out of crops was the major reason for the shortage and spurt in food prices. "This is what President Bush has sought to cover up," Karat said.
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