Cong walks out alleging govt denying rice to poor people

"Though the Centre had been releasing rice at the rate of 35 kg per poor family per month, the state government distributed only 25 kg of rice to a family," pointed out Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh of Congress while participating in a debate on the controversy.

The Congress members alleged that the state government had been denying 10 kg of rice to each beneficiary poor family every month.

"Less supply of rice to poor families has lead to hunger situation in the state where at least 31 people have died of starvation," alleged Congress Chief Whip Prasad Harichandan.

Claiming the Centre has been allocating 35 kg of subsidised rice for 46 lakh poor families in the state, Harichandan said the state government misutilised them and takes credit of providing cheap rice at the rate of Rs 2 a kg.

"We will take the matter to the people in villages who are cheated of 10 kg of rice every month," the Congress Chief Whip said.

Rejecting the opposition allegation, food and supplies minister P K Deb said, "While the Centre gives subsidised rice for only 27.76 lakh families at the rate of 35 kg, the state government distributes them among a total of 42.32 lakh families at the rate of 25 kg per month." MORE