RJP memo against PDS price hike

VADODARA, Feb 2: Office-bearers and workers of the Rashtriya Janata Party RJP led by its city unit president Rajendrasinh Rathore on Tu...

VADODARA, Feb 2: Office-bearers and workers of the Rashtriya Janata Party RJP led by its city unit president Rajendrasinh Rathore on Tuesday submitted a memorandum to District Collector Anil Mukim condemning the Central Government8217;s move to hike prices of wheat, rice and sugar supplied under the Public Distribution System PDS.

The memorandum also discussed the 8220;unfair8221; hike in State Transport bus fares despite the drop in diesel prices, the conflagration of communal tension in Dangs district, the attack on minorities in Bihar and the deterioration of the law and order in the State and the slandering of senior BJP leaders by Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray8217;s stand against the India-Pakistan Test series.

Janata Dal8217;s city unit president Motilal Kanojia also criticised the hike in PDS items stating that it would also affect the middle class populace to a large extent. Pointing out that while the government had been lenient with items such as computers, colour televisions and other electronic goods, its decision to consciously raise the prices of the daily used items reflected poorly on the government8217;s understanding of the masses.

Leaders of the Opposition in the Vadodara Municipal Corporation VMC, meanwhile, criticised the Centre8217;s decision to raise the price of liquefied petroleum gas LPG cylinders. Opposition leader Kanchanbhai Parmar, former Member of Parliament Satyajit Gaekwad, former deputy mayor Chirag Zaveri and others describing it as an additional burden on the middle and low income groups. Also, the decision to hike urea rates would result in an net increase in cost of agricultural production.

Stating that the poor and middle classes comprised 90 per cent of the nation8217;s population, the leaders charged that the BJP had proven to be the government for the 10 per cent affluent minority.

Meanwhile, former Standing Committee chairman of the VMC and social worker Fatehsinh Rana has welcomed the drop in PDS rates for those living below the poverty line.