Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (ANK)
Mangaluru, Feb 15: MLA U T Khader on Monday February 15 condemned the statement made by minister for food and civil supplies Umesh Katti who has asked people to return their BPL cards if they own fridge, TV or two-wheeler.
Addressing a press meet here, Khader said, "The statement made by the minister is anti-people. It has proved that the state government has no concern for people.
"The minister should be talking about providing ration cards to those who do not possess them and providing additional rice to beneficiaries. Instead, the minister is asking people to return their ration cards. People will not spare this government. Every household has TV, fridge and two-wheeler. These are not luxury, they are essential for daiily life. Why did they leave out mobile phone from the list?" he said.
"The programmes chalked out by the government should benefit people. Instead it is putting people in deep trouble. We have a feeling that the state government and the central government are planning to abolish the public distribution system (PDS). Once the farm bill is implemented the PDS system will be in jeopardy," he added.
"The government has reduced the benefits available under BPL card. Rice was cut of from 7 kg to 5 kg. Ragi is distributed in the district, but in reality, people of Dakshina Kannada do not consume ragi. Also, we demand to provide boiled rice instead of white rice. When we were in power, we ensured that every section, be it destitudes or civic workers who had Aadhar card would get ration card," said Khader.
"I urge the government to withdraw the plan of taking pack the BPL cards. Congress condemns the statement made by the minister and demands a discussion on the issue. Congress' slogan is 'garibi hatao' (eradicate poverty) but BJP's policies seem to be aimed at 'garibon ko hatao' (eradicate the poor).
"This government will not survive if it does not take back its decision. When you introduce such anti-people policies, people will themselves bring down the government," Khader said.