Imphal Jul 7 UNA : In a state like Manipur where public distribution system was in a state of embarrassing failure, the National Food Security Bill (NFSB) would only swell the pocket of the ruling Congress MLAs and ministers.
This was conveyed by BJP national general secretary Tapir Gao addressing to media at the office of the BJP Manipur Pradesh in which he took up various issues related with Manipur.
He said that in BJP rule states like Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Goa, Gujarat, etc. it has already been implemented and “it is in vogue successfully while claiming that success is mainly due to the efficiency of the PDS.”
BJP supported the food security bill, but ready for a debate in the upcoming monsoon session of the Parliament for certain amendments, he said, adding “In the context of Manipur where PDS is simply a fiasco, the National Security Food Bill will swell the pockets of Congress MLAs and ministers.”
Asserting that the NFSB might have ensured a full coverage of food entitlement to 67% (82 crore of people) of total population and the total requirement was 62million tons of food grain, Tapir said the government have to bear an extra expenditure of Rs 1.25 lakh crore.
Availing five kg of rice at the rate of Rs 3 or wheat at the rate of Rs 2 per kg per person per month and entitlement of Rs 6000 as maternity benefit, hot cooked food to the age group of six month to 14 years were other highlights of the NFS Ordinance, he said exposing the modus operandi of the UPA government.
“The UPA has managed to pass the act in a hurried manner taking through the route of ordinance and that it has been subsequently promulgated by the President instead of putting up and discussed in the Parliament is apparent that it is a political gimmick to gain electoral profit in the Lok Sabha elections due 2014,” he alleged.
UPA has also failed its promise of passing Food Security Act within 100 days of coming to power after 2004 election. Criticism has also cropped up from the public that a PIL was served by one advocate that Article 123 of the Indian Constitution has been misused as the ordinance has been passed though it was not an “emergency” situation.
Regarding the ongoing demand for implementation of the inner line permit (ILP) system in Manipur, the BJP national general secretary termed the issue as a serious social challenge of the state.
“There arises a demographic imbalance by way of population dilution of indigenous people and hence their social identity, arts and culture were threatened,” he said, asserting that BJP has already been made note of legislating to safeguard the identity of indigenous people in the election manifestos in the last two Assembly elections and also in last Parliamentary election.
The party would always fight and contribute to the cause of indigenous people and its efforts to save the people of Manipur from being marginalized. Legislation is a must and the party has no other option except to adopt ILP as per provision of Article 5 of the Indian Constitution, he said.
While taking up the matter of fake encounter killings, Tapir alleged that most of the fake encounter case took place during the 10 years tenure of chief O Ibobi Singh who held the portfolio of home department. Ibobi himself was the chairman of the Unified Command of the security forces countering insurgency in Manipur.
He further criticized the Congress government, both at thee Centre and in Manipur for demoralizing most of the important democratic institutions with their continue process with full intension. The clear example was Manipur government has made defunct the Manipur State Human Right Commission and State Information Commission which were the most important democratic institute of the state.
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/bjp-opposes-food-security-ordinance/