DMK has opposed the central government’s decision to implement ‘one nation, one ration card’ scheme calling it against the idea of federalism. DMK Chief MK Stalin asserted this decision of the Government of India would have its repercussions.
“Public distribution is a fundamental right of state governments. The Union food minister does not understand the repercussions that would follow if such a right is infringed upon,” Stalin claimed.
He accused the central government of trying to establish its dominance by implementing the scheme. “It is to be understood that the Centre, by implementing such initiatives, is trying to establish its dominance. Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government is desperately indulging in activities aimed at uprooting federalism”, he said.
AMMK leader T T V Dhinakaran also joined Stalin in opposing the one nation, one ration card scheme and said that if a considerable amount of foodgrain has to be allocated to migrants, the locals would have to undergo hardship. “Tamil Nadu is already burdened financially by complying with the Food Security Act. The public distribution system in the State will completely collapse because of the one nation, one ration scheme”‘, said Dhinakaran.
The central government has given a year’s deadline of June 30, 2020, to the states and the Union Territories for rolling out one nation, one ration card system. This scheme is will allow the beneficiaries to buy subsidized foodgrains from ration shops in any part of the country.
Stalin and Dhinakaran have also requested the ruling AIADMK government to oppose the center’s scheme in its nascent stage. This despite the Union Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan confirming the scheme is aimed to ensure no poor was left out of the PDS entitlement in case of a person shifting from one place to the another. Paswan also asserted the scheme will also help to weed out fake ration card holders.
We had reported earlier how Stalin had in his address at an election rally in Ottapidaram in Tamil Nadu on May 1, said the firing on Sterlite protesters done in May 2018 was executed at the behest of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
