Rice issue: Noisy scenes during question time

: Noisy scenes were witnessed in the Puducherry Assembly today during question time with the opposition block comprising Congress, AIADMK and DMK seeking a detailed probe into modalities adopted in implementation of free rice scheme and also 'malpractices' in it.
As soon as the House resumed its proceedings, AIADMK member A Anbalagan sought details of quantum of rice available under the scheme to cardholders and also wanted the Chief Minister to clarify from where the rice was procured.
The CM said each ration card holder in Puducherry and Karaikal regions was supplied 10 kg rice every month free. Government owned Civil Supplies Corporation was buying it from from State Trading Corporation Chennai, a central government undertaking, which quoted the lowest price in the tender.

The opposition kept levelling charges of 'corrupt practices' and irregularities, drowning the House in noisy scenes for nearly 20 minutes.
CM stuck to his stand and said there was transparency in implementating the scheme,procedures adopted and distribution.
Leader of the opposition V Vaithilingam questioned the need for government to purchase rice at Rs 31 a kg when it was available at Rs 21 a kg in the market and alleged tender norms were violated in sanctioning permission for its purchase.

AIADMK legislator A Anbalagan and party colleague Om Sakthi Segar alleged there were serious malpractices in the scheme and demanded a thorough probe.The former also presented samples of rice to Speaker V Sabapathy to support his charge.

A M H Nazeem (DMK) asserted the CM should order a CBI probe into the alleged corrupt practices.
At one stage the Speaker told the opposition the present rule in Puducherry would never offer room for corruption and malpractices in any scheme.
Congress MLAs said the probe could be broadbased to cover procedures adopted in the previous Congress regime also.
A section of ruling AINRC legislators protested against time being devoted to an issue during question time and feared they would not be able to get replies to their questions on other subjects listed for debate.
The CM stuck to his stand that there was absolutely no room for corruption and the scheme was implemented and the consumers were also happy about the welfare measure.

The House then took up the subsequent questions listed for the day for discussion.