Kerala Minister warns of 'dharna' at Parliament

Kochi, Jul 31 (UNI) Kerala Food and Civil Supplies Minister C Divakaran today said State Ministers and MLAs would be forced to stage a 'dharna' in front of Parliament if the Centre did not reinstate the rice supply for the public distribution system.

Talking to reporters here, he said the Centre had informed the State recently that there would be no rice allocation for the above poverty line (APL) ration card-holders from August to December this year.

Stating that the State's quota of central rice allocation had already been slashed from 113,000 tonnes to 17,000 tonnes per month, Mr Divakaran said this meage quantity would also be scrapped.

Urging the Centre to reconsider its decision, he said if the Centre did not relent, the State Ministers and MLAs would be forced to stage the stir.

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