MNS to launch agitation against ration cards misuse: Raj

Aurangabad, Maharashtra, July 21 (UNI) Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray today declared that his party would launch the first ever public agitation soon against the misuse of ration cards in Maharashtra and malpractices in the distributing the same.

Addressing a news conference here today, Mr Thackeray came down heavily on the alleged misuse of ration cards and said despite it has been mentioned clearly on the ration cards that they are valid only for the rationing purposes, but still many government institutions and commercial organisations insist on it as a document to prove one's citizenship. As a result, people try to obtain the ration cards by illegal means, paving the way for corruption at the cost of national security.

He said that his party would launch its first-ever agitation on this issue some time after August this year and would try to expose misuse and malpractices in the ration card distribution.

Mr Thackeray said the police should be given a free hand in their investigations in connection with the recent serial blasts in Mumbai.

If a free hand is given to the police, without any political intereference, the police may complete their investigation within 48 hours, he said.

Mr Thackeray said the anti-development attitude of the political parties has hampered development of the state.

To a question, he said State Director General of Police (DGP) should have made public the names of politicians, who according to him, were behind the recent serial blasts in Mumbai. There was no reason to hide their names.

Attributing unemployement as one of the reasons for the growing terrorist activities in Maharashtra and the involvement of youths from the backward region like Marathwada, he said providing jobs to the jobless is important to combat terrorism.

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