Govt criticised for stopping supply of rice to APL families

'Consider plight of 35 lakh APL card holders'

The State government came under severe criticism from the BJP members in the Legislative Council on Monday for discontinuing supply of rice to APL card holders for ensuring the implementation of the Re one-a-kg scheme for BPL families.

Leader of the Opposition D V Sadananda Gowda said the government was kicking the APL families in their gut by denying them rice for their survival.

“There are 35 lakh APL card holders in the state. We appeal to the government to consider their plight. We appreciate the scheme of the government in giving rice to the BPL families. But, even APL families need rice for their survival,” Gowda said.

Prof S R Leela and Amarnath Patil (both BJP) and T John (Congress) asked the government to justify the reasons for diverting rice meant for APL families. Even rice mill owners have been denying rice for the scheme, Leela said.

Replying to the discussion, Minister of State for Food and Civil Supplies Dinesh Gundu Rao said: “I do not have enough rice for both. If I provide rice to the APL families, then I will have to cut down the supply to BPL families.”