'Large-scale smuggling of PDS rice from TN by DMK men'

[karira]

As reported by PTI in hindu.com on 24 May 2008:
The Hindu News Update Service

'Large-scale smuggling of PDS rice from TN by DMK men'

Chennai (PTI): Charging that there was a large-scale smuggling of PDS rice from Tamil Nadu by ruling DMK men, AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa on Saturday blamed Chief Minister M Karunanidhi for not taking any action against them.

Alleging a nexus of police and DMK functionaries behind the smuggling, Jayalalithaa, in a statement, said due to this, ration card holders were deprived of their monthly quota of 20 kg of rice.

"Rice supplied under the Rs two per kg scheme to ration shops is being smuggled by DMK partymen, with the help of police, to other states or sold in black market," she said. She claimed that 1.9 lakh quintal of rice was smuggled last year, citing information received under the Right to Information (RTI) act.

The former Chief Minister said some persons were arrested for smuggling rice only after AIADMK and DMK's allies came out with concrete proof.
"There have been complaints from people that they are being supplied only 20 kg of rice at the fair price shops while some other essential commodities are not supplied regularly," she said while calling for immediate solution to the problem.