Shimla:
This is one instance where an apple a day is not going to keep the doctor away. Newton's humble Apple is undoubtedly the flavour of this season and every party, it seems, wants a piece of the 'apple' pie.
In a state known for its apple production, the Congress is using the fruit to drive home the benefits of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).
Congress President Sonia Gandhi in her rally in Shimla advocated FDI saying, "It was for the benefit of farmers, we have decided to bring FDI in retail. The farmers will not get exploited and consumers will also get products at cheaper rates. The opposition is creating rumours on FDI and no state is forced to accept FDI in retail."
Sure enough, it all seemed to be in apple-pie condition for the congress till the BJP latched on to former union minister Virbhadra Singh's tax controversy. Mr Singh's revised income tax returns showed up to a 30-fold jump in his income from his apple orchards from7 lakhs to over 2 crores, even though, in a year the state's apple production dropped due to bad weather.
Taking a potshot at his rival, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal said, "People have been asking which variety of apples grow in Mr Singh's orchards. (Laughs) I told them to go ask him what variety he has planted that gives such a good output.
And with this controversy the fruit that has been losing its identity to Steve Jobs' innovation is back on the popularity charts. The question now is whose apple cart will it upset?