DMK selling PDS rice in black market to other states: Jaya

Chennai, May 24 (UNI) Alleging that ruling DMK partymen were smuggling PDS rice to other states and selling it on the black market, AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa today urged the Tamil Nadu Government to take stringent action against the offenders.

In a statement here, she wanted the Government to ensure that steps were taken to prevent the smuggling and provide 20 kgs of rice through fair price shops to the poor.

The State Government should not hesitate to take action against those involved in rice smuggling, she added.

She alleged that the various populist schemes announced in the DMK's manifesto and repeating the same in the State Government's Budget only benefitted the ruling partymen and remained on paper.

The Government did not take steps to find out whether the schemes reached the people, she charged.

Ms Jayalalithaa claimed that a majority of the rice meant for the PDS system were being diverted to other states by the ruling partymen in connivance with the police.

Citing information received under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, she said 1.9 lakh quintal of rice was smuggled last year, depriving the poor people of their quota of rice in ration shops.

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