Kichloo lashes out at govt for hiking ration prices

Tribune News Service

Jammu, December 8

National Conference leader Sajjad Ahmed Kichloo today criticised the PDP-BJP government for the hike in ration prices and said the anti-people measure had compounded the miseries of the poor, already grappling with inflation.

“The hike in foodgrains is mainly due to the wrong policies of the coalition government and it comes at a time when the state is battling unrest,” Kichloo said while interacting with residents of the far-off places of the Kishtwar constituency today.

The NC leader sought immediate rollback of the price rise, saying that on the one hand, the government has failed to make available adequate quantity and good quality ration at the Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution sale outlets and on the other hand, it is testing the patience of the people by putting additional burden on them.

“This is yet another anti-people measure after the implementation of the Food Safety Act which had been opposed by the Omar Abdullah-led government but introduced by the present dispensation, thus depriving a large number of rationed population of the much-needed food support,” he added.

Kichloo lashed out at the present government for increasing the power tariff, saying that instead of ensuring its regulated supply, it has taxed the consumers. “How can the poor people pay inflated bills on account of power tariff and ration hike,” he said, terming these sadistic measures as the PDP-BJP version of ‘acche din’.

The former minister termed the coalition government as a dismal failure, saying the governance deficit and administrative inertia has resulted in developmental paralysis with utility services almost turning dysfunctional.