DMK voted in favour of Food Bill sans amendments in TN's

Accusing DMK president M Karunanidhi of attempting to create a 'false impression that the Food Security legislation would provide food security,' Chief Minister Jayalalithaa today said the people would teach him a fitting lesson for his double standards.

"The DMK's vote in support of the Food Bill when it did not have amendments regarding procurement of foodgrains by the State government during times of shortage and on the price issue, is a huge betrayal of the people of Tamil Nadu," she alleged.

Karunanidhi had attempted to create a false impression that the Bill would provide Food security by describing Congress president Sonia Gandhi as 'Manimekalai' the protagonist of Tamil epic 'Manimekalai' who provided food through her 'bowl of plenty' to the hungry, she charged.

"The Centre brought in an amendment assuring that the quantity of rice being supplied to states would not be lowered following my continuous representations," she said.

Though the Centre provided for 21.88 lakh metric tonnes of rice to Tamil Nadu at a cost of Rs 3 per kg, it did not effect amendments on the price for 14.90 lakh metric tonnes for the APL category which is now being provided at Rs 8.30 per kg to the State, she said.

Despite Food Minister K V Thomas telling AIADMK MP M Thambidurai in Parliament during discussion on the Bill that an amendment on the price for 14.90 lakh tonnes of rice would be moved, it was not done. Other amendments had also not been accepted, Jayalalithaa pointed out.

On DMK MP TR Baalu's speech in Parliament on Section 23 of the Bill and his appeal that the object of the Bill would be 'flouted' if the Centre made States 'wander for foodgrains' and a representation by the party to K V Thomas, seeking continued supply of 14.90 lakh tonnes of rice at Rs.8.30, she wondered how DMK voted with the government when the Bill did not feature amendments on procurement of foodgrains by the State government during shortage and on price.