AIADMK MLA A. Anbalagan and his supporters on Thursday forcibly downed shutters and locked four fair price shops in his Uppalam constituency to register their protest against the government’s failure to distribute quality rice in the outlets. On Thursday morning, Mr. Anbalagan, accompanied by cadres, visited a fair price shop in Vanarapet and displayed the food grains that were being distributed to cardholders in the area.
Later, Mr. Anbalagan pulled down the shutters of the PDS outlet and warned that the AIADMK would not allow the shops to open till quality rice was distributed to consumers. He said that free rice was distributed after a delay of seven months and the government was adopting a discriminatory approach against constituencies held by the opposition. While quality rice was supplied in constituencies held by the Ministers and MLAs belonging to the ruling party the opposition were only getting sub-standard rice.
Mr. Anbalagan said the government’s claim that the rice was procured at a price of Rs.30.18 per kg was not true. The rice was procured at Rs.18 to Rs.20 per kg and polished and supplied to the cardholders. The government should ensure that rice of good quality was available to all cardholders.
