In CG, PDS rice being sold in open market: Diggi

Raipur, September 07, 2013

AICC general secretary Digvijay Singh on Saturday said rice allocated under public distribution system (PDS) in Chhattisgarh was being sold in open market. “Every month, rice worth crores reaches market due to grafts in PDS. Evidently, relevant officials are responsible for this, but they are moving scot-free,” he said while talking to media persons after attending national plenary session of INTUC at Raipur.

He further said blackmarketing of kerosene worth Rs 150-200 crore too was being done every month.

He said CM Raman Singh should not claim himself as chaval wale baba (rice baba) for distributing rice at low rate to poor as the state’s share is just Re 1 on every one kg of rice while Centre incurs Rs 22.

On Indira Priyadarshini Bank scam he said the CD of the narco test of the bank manager apparently confirms that the CM and four other ministers had received kickbacks. He alleged that the police deliberately refrained from submitting the CD to the court. He said now the court should take cognisance and ask police to lodge FIR against CM and the four ministers.

On Darbha incident he held the government responsible for security lapse and said it could have averted the incident if it had taken proactive measures in advance.

He further lashed at the PWD department for failing to maintain state roads. “The PWD’s civil construction works are of worst quality. Thanks to the contractors who are actually BJP workers. This was confirmed by the CM himself who had earlier asked the partymen to shun contract works and start working for the party,” Singh said.

Comparing Centre’s food security bill with that of Chhattisgarh, he said the former had made provisions of food for pregnant women and malnourished kids too while state model lacked them.

On current economic condition of the country he said reduction in subsidy alone cannot reduce current account deficit (CAD) but tax deficits too would have to be reduced.

‘Loan burden on Modi’s Gujarat touches Rs 1.34 lakh cr’

On Gujarat CM Narendra Modi’s Chhattisgarh visit and prime ministerial candidature, Singh said he should first improve condition of his own state which had loan burden to the tune of 1.34 lakh crore at present. Every person in Gujarat has loan burden of Rs 23,600. “Is this a Gujarat development model where poor and malnourished have increased,” he asked.