THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With the common man reeling under the sky-rocketing prices of essential commodities, the issue will come up for detailed discussion in the Assembly on Wednesday. Former Civil Supplies Minister and CPI leader C Divakaran, MLA, had given notice for discussion on price rise which has been allowed by the Speaker.
Meanwhile, the state government has come under severe attack from the Opposition LDF for its failure to check prices, hoarding and black-marketing. Former Finance Minister Dr T.M. Thomas Isaac said, “There is acute shortage of essential commodities in most Supplyco stores. The entire system has been rendered ineffective,” he said accusing the government of choking these outlets by not providing adequate funds.
He said despite tall claims, no action was being initiated against hoarding and black-marketing. The state government is trying to shift the entire blame on the Centre in a bid to hide its own failures, the CPM MLA alleged.
Minister for Food and Civil Supplies Mr Anoop Jacob admitted that prices of essential commodities were shooting up over the roof. “It is happening because of reasons beyond our control. We have intensified inspections and raids to check hoarding and black-marketing. Special squads have been formed for this purpose,” he said.
“Our public distribution system has received a setback after the Centre stopped additional ration allotment and reduced it from 11 kg to 6 kg . I have already requested Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Mr RamVilas Paswan to consider our plea for raising the ration allotment. We will raise the issue at the meeting convened by him on July 4 which will be presided over by Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley,” he added.
CPM politburo member M.A. Baby, “Definitely it speaks volumes about both the Centre and the state government in failing to control price of essential commodities. Increase in rail freight charges, petrol and diesel prices will have a cascading effect on the common man. Most traders form the support base of the BJP and it is unlikely that the NDA government is going to act tough against them”.
