Centre pressures States to lift additional allocation
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has reiterated its demand for a universal public distribution system with a minimum allocation of 35 kg of grain at Rs. 2 a kg.
A two-day meeting of the party’s Polit Bureau, which concluded here on Tuesday, said the Central government had ignored the Supreme Court’s directive to distribute, free of cost, the huge stocks of grain among the poor rather than allowing it to rot.
“On the contrary, it is pursuing the anti-people policy of pressuring the States to lift ‘additional allocation’ at a price that is even higher than the present issue price of food grains provided to the above the poverty line population. At the same time the objectionable scheme for further targeting, being proposed by the National Advisory Council as well as the proposal to cut all subsidies for the above the poverty line population, show the mockery that is being made of the concept to food security,” a statement issued by the party said.
The Polit Bureau heard a report on the political situation in West Bengal. The report said the people of the Maoist-affected Jangal Mahal were resisting violence and intimidation.
Accusing the Trinamool Congress of collaborating with the Moaists and pointing to Railway Minister and Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee’s visit to Darjeeling to forge political ties with the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, the CPI(M) said the people had mobilised in a big way to rebuff the Maoists in West Midnapore district. “Upset at this development, the Trinamool Congress is demanding the withdrawal of the joint forces operating in the area and is making wild allegations against the CPI(M).”