Defence Minister A K Antony has said on Sunday that US President George Washington Bush’s comment on Indian food habits is a “cruel joke”.

George Bush had said on Saturday that grwoinh demand for foodgrains in India was the reason for spiralling global food prices.

Antony said in Thiruvananthapuram that the Largescale conversion of agriculture land for commercial & bio-fuel cultivation purposes have resulted in food shortage at the global level.

Antony further said, “Policies of USA were also responsible for foodgrain shortage”. Those who criticise should not set apart agriculture land for other purposes. The countries, including America, should rectify their mistakes.