BJP attacks Congress Govt over rotten rice dumping episode
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, May 09 2013:
Launching a scathing attack on the ruling Congress led O Ibobi Singh Government in the State for letting large quantity of rice and sugar go wasted, Bharatiya Janata Party, Manipur Pradesh today demanded the Chief Minister, his Council of Ministers and MLAs to declare their assets.
"It is because the Congress government was busy looting the rice of the people that their rightful share have not been distributed in time, thus letting such huge quantity of rice and sugar to rot in the godowns", spokespersons of BJP Manipur Pradesh Y Nilamani Singh stated during a press conference at the party office, Nityaipat Chuthek here today.
Nilamani pointed out that as per a standing order of the Supreme Court, all the food items including rice and sugar, which are nearing final stages to be considered fit for consumption must be distributed among the poor and needy people free of cost instead of letting them wasted.
However, the Congress led Government in the State has let over 979 metric tonnes of rice and 135 metric tonnes of sugar, which could have been consumed by the people for more than one year, go wasted.
The whole situation has crept up because the Congress was busy looting the rice and sugar of the general public and not distributing the same in time to the needy and poor people, he alleged, while questioning what the Directors, Commissioners and Ministers of Consumer Affairs Food ad Public Distribution have been doing for the last many years.
"This also clearly indicates that the Food Specialist/Inspector of the Department never care to look at the condition of the rice and sugar being kept in the State godowns", Nilamani further alleged, while asking whether depriving the people of their share of rice and sugar and then dumping away is considered an achievement of the Congress Government or not.
Nilamani demanded demand inquiry into the matter by an independent body like CBI for giving befitting punishment to the Commissioner, Director and Ministers in-charge of Consumer Affairs Food and Public Distribution, in accordance to the laws of the land.
He also demanded the Chief Minister, his council of ministers and MLAs to declare their assets at the earliest and asked the reason for not declaring their assets till now even after the formation of a sub-committee which has been entrusted with the task.
Nilamani went on to allege that Congress led Government in the State has not provided the actual shares of rice and sugar to the people.
It is also not known where truck loads of rice and sugar unloaded at the state godowns have gone.
The actual quantity and the amount of rice and sugar which have been dumped as garbage by the government should be made known to the public.
In case of failure, the concerned Minister should resign on moral ground.
Pointing out that Manipur Human Rights Commission has remained defunct for the last couple of years; Nilamani further demanded that all the required staffs of the Commission should be appointed at the earliest to make it functional once again.
He also mentioned the irregularities in GAD brought out by the Estimates Committee of the State Assembly.