BJP protest
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 17 2016: BJP Manipur Pradesh staged sit-in-protests at different places against deprivation of the benefits entitled to NFSA beneficiaries today.

BJP Manipur Pradesh president K Bhabananda and Committee on Monitoring National Food Security Act (BJP Manipur Pradesh) convenor RK Shivachandra also took part at the protests held at different localities.

Bhabananda said that benefits under the Act had not been properly provided to the masses till date although the State Government implemented NFSA from April this year.

Stating that the incumbent State Government is incompetent to serve the people, Bhabananda alleged that NFSA rice meant for distribution to the masses had been siphoned off.

Maintaining that they would not allow the common people to be deprived of their rights, Bhabananda said that the Committee on Monitoring National Food Security Act (BJP Manipur Pradesh) would carry on its movement against the Government's wrongdoings.

At the end of the ongoing first phase, a report would be submitted to the Centre after the committee members visit all the Assembly segments and collect datas on NFSA implementation, he said.

Saying that BJP Manipur Pradesh would press the Centre to probe the irregularities, Bhabananda said that all the individuals involved in NFSA mess would be identified soon.

A similar sit-in-protest was also staged at Laipham Khunou under the aegis of BJP Heingang Mandal and BJP State executive member A Ratan (Kapu).

The issue of non-distribution of PDS items like rice, sugar and kerosene was deliberated at the sit-in-protest.

BJP Khundrakpam Mandal and BJP Wangkhei Mandal also staged similar protests at Khundrakpam Awang Leikai and Khurai Ahongei respectively.

BJP Keirao Mandal also staged a sit-in-protest on the same issue at Keirao today.

BJP Keirao Kendra Mandal president W Biren, BJP Manipur Kishan Morcha vice president N Itomba Meetei, BJP State executive members Thongram Tony, Thongram Gopen, Salam Lala, NFSA Monitoring committee co-ordinators K Sarat, ex MLA Th Nandakishore spoke as resource persons at the sit-in-protest.

Speaking to the gathering, BJP Kishan Morcha vice president N Itomba Meetei said that several NFSA beneficiaries under Keirao Assembly Constituency have been denied food security cards and full rice quotas due to mismanagement and politicization of the scheme by the local MLA.

Fair price shop agents in Keirao AC are providing 7 to 12 kgs of rice per household although a member in a family is entitled to 5 kgs a month, he said.

He also asserted that many eligible beneficiaries are yet to get their food cards due to errors in the selection process and undue intervention from the local MLA.

A sit-in-protest was also staged today at Kwakeithel under the banner "One day dharna for National Food Security Act (NFSA) and BJP Manipur Pradesh president Ksh Bhabananda also took part in the agitation.

Bhabananda said that BJP Manipur Pradesh has already constituted a 10-member committee to look into people's complaints about non-distribution of NFSA rice and sloppy implementation of the same Act.

BJP will hold protest demonstration at Mandal level, district level as well as at the State level.

A team of BJP Manipur Pradesh would go to Delhi and apprise the central Government about the abject failure of the State Government in implementing NFSA.

A team of Central leaders would also be invited to visit the State and make direct assessment of NFSA implementation in Manipur, he added.

It is said that similar protest demonstrations were staged today at Kakching, Langmeidong and Sugnu under respective BJP mandals.

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