Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 21: Various political and social organizations as well as their leaders today registered their protest against PDP-BJP Government’ decision to stop supply of subsidized sugar to APL card holders and increase the price from Rs 13.50 to Rs 25 per kg for BPL card holders.
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Former Minister and senior Congress leader Raman Bhalla today criticized the Government for depriving 45 lakh people in J&K of their monthly sugar quota. He also expressed serious concern over hiking the rate of sugar meant for BPL/AAY (PHH) category people in the State at the rate of Rs 25 instead of Rs 13.50 per kg which was previously in operation.
This shows that Government is highly callous towards public grievances, as instead of providing them any relief Government is making their life miserable with such anti people steps. Lambasting the Coalition Government for failing to discharge its primary function of providing ration to the poor, Bhalla said since the PDP-BJP Government had taken over, it had derailed the PDS and created a mess besides the unprecedented hike in prices, which had made the ration beyond the reach of common people.
An ‘Akrosh Rally’ was organized today by senior Congress leader Sumeet Magotra in Udhampur against price hike of sugar for BPL card holders and stopping sugar supply to APL card holders. While rally was proceeding towards NH44, heavy police force deployed by the district administration stopped protesters at Domail Chowk and took them into preventive custody to prevent law and order problem.
While speaking to media persons, Magotra said that by raising the price of sugar in ration depots for BPL card holders, Government has itself proved that its schemes are and anti poor and pro rich. Magotra also said there is no scheme for the poor people and they are over burdened with price hikes of essential commodities. Protesters were kept in custody for hours and were released later after taking personal bonds.
Shiv Sena (Bala Sahib Thackery) today strongly criticized CAPD Department for not providing ration to the general masses at subsidized rates. While talking to media persons here today, State president of Shiv Sena, Dimpy Kohli, said that people are suffering because no ration is available at Ration Depots. He said from the last so many months Government has not provided Atta, Rice, Sugar to Ration Depot owners due to which poor people are suffering and now the rates of Sugar has been hiked from Rs 13.50 per kg to Rs 25 per kg by the State Government to add to their problems.
He said that people have BPL ration cards but they are not getting ration on time which is making mockery of all the schemes of the Government. He demanded that the price hike be taken back and sugar be provided at subsidized rates only.
The workers of Dogra Front and Shiv Sena under the leadership of their president, Ashok Gupta, today held a protest here near Rani Park against the hike in the price of Sugar. Speaking on the occasion, Ashok Gupta stated that in the November last year the price of atta and rice were hiked by 50% which resulted in the hue and cry among the poor people although the bordering States on Himachal and Punjab are selling atta and rice on the earlier prices and no hike has been made.
Gupta stated that members of the assembly are elected by the people but it seems as if we are still living in the British era where the work was done by the people and the benefits are taken by the people in power, as the State Government cannot bear the burden of non subsidized sugar but can spend on the whim’s and fancies of the assembly members. He demanded that the price hike be taken back and sugar be provided on subsidized rate.
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