CM Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy denies ever promising supply of fine rice under PDS in Assembly

Amaravati: Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy denied that he had ever promised distribution of fine rice (sanna biyyam) under Public Distribution System (PDS). He said he assured to give only quality rice. Showing his party manifesto in the state Assembly, he pointed out that nowhere did he mention what variety of rice would be supplied to the people.

Intervening in the debate on fine rice supply to white ration cardholders during the question hour in Assembly on Tuesday, the Chief Minister said that the party's manifesto was his Bible, Quran and Bhagavad Gita. The Chief Minister also screened the video footage related to quality rice distribution programme which was launched in Srikakulam in September last.

"The state government is taking steps to supply quality rice though this was not promised to the people in the manifesto. The Opposition members should notice the slight difference between quality rice and fine rice while using the colloquial terminology," he said.

He also asked the members of the opposition party to compare the quality of PDS rice supplied previously and now. The beneficiaries had not consumed the rice in the past due to poor quality, he recalled. "The rice was used to be recycled. Now the state government wants to supply quality rice by taking into consideration the previous experience," he said.

Jagan Mohan Reddy said that the previous government procured rice now being distributed. After these stocks exhausted, the state government would start supply of quality rice, he explained. The government allocated Rs 1,400 crore additionally to procure quality rice, he said. The government would supply quality rice in all the 13 districts from April onwards.

Reacting to the press statements quoted by TDP leaders in the House, he admitted that some newspapers wrongly understood the details of ministers' committees' decision on supplying quality rice.

Earlier, the TDP members said the government had failed to supply fine rice as promised. TDP member Nimmala Ramanaidu said that Jagan Mohan Reddy promised fine rice supply but the state government cheated the people with the false statements.

He also pointed out that the state government supplied quality rice to 7.5 lakh people when there were 1.45 crore white ration cardholders.

MLA K Atchannaidu alleged that the state government supplied damaged rice in Srikakulam district where Chief Minister launched the distribution of quality rice on pilot basis. He said that the government wasted the public money for bags and transportation.