JAMMU: Taking cognisance of the difficulties being faced by the residents of Jammu city and other adjoining areas of Gandhi Nagar Constituency, former Minister and senior Congress leader, Raman Bhalla said that it is a matter of serious concern that the people of Jammu city have to face such huge problems pertaining to ration supply in their areas.
While addressing the gathering, Bhalla said that the complaints have been received from the inhabitants of many areas that they are not being issued ration commodities from their respective government ration depot. Bhalla also said that the ration quota has not been released by the Department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs and despite depositing money with the department for the ration quota, but the ration supply in the whole Jammu city is totally held up due to unknown reason.
Bhalla said despite several communiqués to the authorities concerned, no action had been initiated against delinquent officials and unscrupulous ration dealers who were causing huge loss to the State Exchequer besides depriving bonafide beneficiaries and other BPL persons of the legitimate right to subsidise ration and food supplies.
Lambasting the Coalition Government for failing to discharge its primary function of providing ration to the poor, Bhalla said since the PDP-BJP Government had taken over, it had derailed the PDS and created a mess besides the unprecedented hike in prices, which had made the ration beyond the reach of common people.
“The people are crying hoarse but the government continues to make tall claims,” he said. The price hike of Rs 5 per kg on Atta and rice besides the reduction of sugar quota in the PDS supply had already served a severe blow to the people, he said.
The programme was organized by Block President Om Parkash. Among those who were present include DCC President Anil Chopra, B.B Gupta, P.S Chowan, Dr. Ramakant, Ashwani Honda, Gaurav Kapoor, Om Parkash Sharma, Satpal Sapolia, Rakesh Bhagat, Mohan Lal Sharma, Dr Babu Ram Gupta, Kewal Gupta, Advocate Bodh Raj Gupta, Suresh Sharma, Sheela Devi and Karuna Devi.