CPI-M cautions UPA against weakening PDS

New Delhi, Jun 4 (UNI) The CPI(M) today cautioned the UPA government from taking any steps that would affect the Public Distribution System (PDS), self sufficiency and violate the assurances made in the Common Minimum Programme of the UPA.

The Polit Bureau of the party in a statement said that the recommendations of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on 'prudent food management' by the Food and Consumer Affairs Ministry are ''anti-poor'' and will add to inflationary trends.

''At a time when every measure has to be taken to protect the working people, the large majority of whom are in unorganised sector without the cover of dearness allowance, acceptance of thse anti-poor recommendations will have disastrous impact on the livelihood of crores of people and add to inflationary trends,'' the statement said.

The committee has recommended hike of food grain prices for BPL and APL categories besides cutting allocations to both sections of ration card holders cutting down the food grain component in all employment generation schemes. It also recommended wiping out of wheat deficit by removing the food component in wages in Central Employment schemes.

This would mean a reduction of 60.5 lakh tonnes of wheat combined with hike in prices of ''so called'' savings of Rs 5,814 crore in food subsidy, the statement said.

The party, a key component of the ruling alliance, had opposed similar measures when it was first mooted in January. Since then the prices of essential commodities have skyrocketed.

''The government should take the unanimous voice of Parliament which had expressed itself against any step to weaken PDS and rising prices. The states may be consulted in replacing some quantity of wheat with rice or coarse grains but there should be no move at all to cut food grains quota,'' the statement added.

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