No free ration and electricity to BPL people in J

Srinagar, Aug 30 (UNI) Jammu and Kashmir government today declared that no free ration and electricity would be provided to Below Poverty Line (BPL) and other poor classes in the state.

Speaking in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on a private members' resolution on providing free ration and exemption from electricity tariff to the BPL people, Minister for Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CAPD) Taj Mohiuddin said it was not possible for the government to accept the resolution.

''Personally I too and other members of this House were in favour of providing free ration and electricity to poor classes of our society, but the government do not have enough funds to meet the expenditure,'' he said.

He said the BPL people were already enjoying 100 per cent subsidy on ration being provided to them by the government.

Power Minister Nawang Rigzin Zora said the determination of the tariff rests with the State Electricity Regularity Commission rather than with the government.

He said there was no provision in the guidelines of the commission to provide free electricity to any people or group of people belonging to BPL.

Mr Nawang said any attempt to provide free power to any consumer would lead to misuse of electricity and efficiency of the power department.

Earlier, speaking on the resolution moved by him in Jammu session on February 7, a National Conference member Sharief-ud-din Shariq said people of Jammu and Kashmir under the leadership of Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah joined India because of its secular character.

Since the discussion remained inconclusive then, the member was allowed to continue it in the present session.

He said India and Pakistan were born on two nation theory which was allowed to happen by Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru and Muslim League.

But, here in Jammu and Kashmir, people opted for India because of its secularism.

He alleged that despite more than 50 years of freedom, people living BPL are still not getting meals and other essentials of life.

He said the NC government took a number of steps to improve the living conditions of these people and much more was needed to be done, in which free ration and power were the most important.

Mr Shariq called for extensive survey of the state to identify the BPL people.

When he refused to withdraw the resolution, it was put to vote by Deputy Speaker Mohammad Akbar Lone.

When Mr Lone announced that the resolution was defeated, NC members, including Leader of the Opposition Abdul Rahim Rather were on their feet saying that the number of members who supported the resolution was high then those who opposed it. They wanted a head count but Mr Lone disagreed and took up a calling attention motion.

UNI