145;Not rice, DMK is promising the moon146;

Chief Minister and AIADMK chief J Jayalalithaa has accused her arch rival, DMK chief M Karunanidhi of 8216;8216;taking people for a ride8217;8217; with his promise of giving rice at Rs 2 per kg to ration card-holders if he is voted to power.

8216;8216;He is promising the moon and it8217;s not feasible,8217;8217; she said on Sunday. Jayalalithaa was reacting to Karunanidhi8217;s promises like the rice scheme and colour television for all households in his party manifesto. Reacting to Jayalalithaa8217;s criticism of his schemes, Karunanidhi said that the supply of rice at Rs 2 per kg and colour TV to those without one are feasible. He would announce the modalities zon April 5.

Rice has always been a poll issue in TN. In 1967, DMK swept to power with the promise of 8216;8216;three measures of rice for Re 18217;8217;. Again, in the 1980s, when M G Ramachandran was CM, the Centre reduced the allocation of rice to states from the Central pool. MGR went on a fast and forced the Centre to retract its decision. In 2001, Jayalalithaa had announced that ration card-holders below the poverty line would be given rice at Rs 3.5 a kg. However, she had hiked the rate for the balance 10 kg entitlement per month to Rs 6 per kg.