STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: At a time when people of J and K are trying their level best to come out of shock of PM’s demonetisation move, State Government has rubbed salt on their wounds by increasing the rate of Atta and rice.
This was stated by former Minister and senior Congress leader Raman Bhalla while addressing with a deputation from Bathindi, Rajeev Nagar and Batala villages in Gandhi Nagar Constituency asking them to raise their voice to roll back the decision immediately.
Bhalla slammed the Coalition Government for increase in prices of these basic commodities and said that it is unfortunate on part of Government to hike prices without making any announcement. He said despite Food Corporation of India (FCI) providing food grains to Jammu and Kashmir on old rates, the State Government has taken such anti people step. The State Government has suddenly increased the rate of Atta by 62 per cent.
With the coming of Modi Government to power the people of India are being forced to face the brunt of inflation, unemployment and serious law and order problem throughout the country.
Rates of ration being given under Mufti Mohammad Sayeed Food Entitlement Scheme (MMSFES) in the State have been increased from existing Rs 7.80 to Rs 13 per kg and that of rice from Rs 10 per kg to Rs 15 per kg now which clearly indicated that hapless consumers of the State have been made to shell out extra money to purchase ration from Government depots and fair price shops under the new PDP led Government’s popular MMSFES.
Bhalla asserted that Government’s proposed move to levy sugar with a hike in current rate of Rs 13.50 to Rs 25 per kg will give a severe blow to common man’s budget and shall invite strong public protests and agitation across the State. This price hike would affect 45 lakh souls who fall under APL category. The price hike by the incumbent government has come after the PDP led Government first decided to implement National Food Security Act (NFSA) which reduced rice entitlement per person to 5 kg, however at the time of implementation of the Act the government stated that the ration would be sold at Rs 10 per Kg in APL category. However, now government has increased ration prices, the move has drawn flak from the consumers across the state who are demanding roll back of the price hike of rice which is staple food in Kashmir.
This sharp hike is unjustified and shall adversely affect the budget of a common man therefore, we appealed to the concerned authorities, including the concerned Cabinet Minister and also the Chief Minister to look into the matter and get the hike in the prices rolled back, he added.
