Even cattle refuse to eat PDS rice, says Jaya

Chennai, Feb 4 (UNI) AIADMK General Secretary J Jayalalithaa today charged that rice being supplied in Tamil Nadu under 'Rs two per kg' scheme through Public Distribution System (PDS) was of inferior quality that even cattle refuse to eat.

In a statement here, she said the poor in the state were unable to eat the PDS rice as it had bad odour. ''It is unpalatable not only for humans but also for the cattle. Even those who have partaken the rice by mistake have died,'' she claimed.

The AIADMK supremo also alleged that DMK men were smuggling quality rice to other states and making profit by selling it for Rs ten to Rs 14 per kg.

Stating that the CPI(M), an ally of the ruling DMK, had also made the same charge against the Government, she said the 'Rs two per kg' scheme was beneficial only to the DMK men.

Ms Jayalalithaa said rice being stored in open godowns of Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation were spoiled due to direct exposure to sun and rain.

After buying them on auction, the DMK men were re-selling the rice back to the corporation and smuggling the quality rice to other states, she claimed.

Refuting Ms Jayalalithaa's charge, State Food Minister E V Velu said the Government's rice scheme had been widely welcomed across the state and the poor had showered praises on Chief Minister M Karunanidhi.

Dismissing as ''baseless'' her charge that DMK men were smuggling rice to other states, he challenged her to provide the evidence.

UNI