Yechuri demands strong PDS to check price rise

Agartala, Aug 5 (UNI) CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechuri today demanded to strengthen the Public Distribution System (PDS) and increase the state quota to check price rise and soaring inflation.

Talking to newspersons, Mr Yechuri alleged that despite huge procurement of rice, the Centre had reduced the state quota which in turn hampered the PDS system.

He said to manage the present situation the state quote should be restored and supply of food grains be increased.

He asserted that the Left parties was a secular pro-people third alternative, minus the BJP and Congress, to restore political stability in the country and the five major issues including nuke deal, price hike and poor management of internal security would be their main issues.

''So far there was no electoral alliance with any political party except our front partner, but by end of this month the new third front would take a concrete shape,'' Mr Yechuri said and added that the Leftists were not concerned about electoral politics but more eager to keep the secular fabric of India in tact, resist terrorism and fundamentalists and institute pro-people policy to safeguard the country.

He expressed serious concern over the recent terrorist attacks in Bangaluru and Ahmedabad and said the incidents took place because of the total failure of national security management of the UPA government.

He pointed out that the international terrorist organisations had emerged as a major threat to the country due to the inefficiency of the Manmohan Singh government and the recent incidents have proved it again.

Regarding the Kashmir issue, Mr Yechuri demanded an all party meeting and a special Parliament session to restore normalcy in the valley as well as to contain price rise.

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