Centre not withdrawing decision on ration quota a challange:CPI(M)

Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 6 (UNI) The Kerala unit of Communist Party of India CPI(M) today said the stand taken by the Centre and Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar against withdrawing the decision of slashing ration quota to the state was a challenge. ''The decision is a challenge and an insult to the Federal Constitution,'' the CPI(M) state secretariat said in a statement here today.

Stating that the ration wheat, rice and kerosene was very much a part of the life of common man in the state, it alleged that the Manmohan Singh government was truing to ''scuttle'' the four-decade long statutory rationing system, which were earned through agitations.

The UPA government was trying to weaken the public distribution system, which was more powerful in the state, and as part of this move the Agriculture Minister was ridiculing the state's demands.

The people in the state should unitedly protest the Union government's stand neglecting the states demand and not providing sufficient riceto the state, it added.

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