Sharp hike in prices of atta, rice unjustified: Bhalla

Senior Cong leader Raman Bhalla talking to people from Bathindi and Rajeev Nagar in Jammu on Sunday.
Senior Cong leader Raman Bhalla talking to people from Bathindi and Rajeev Nagar in Jammu on Sunday.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 4: At a time when people of J&K are trying their best to come out of shock of PM’s demonetization move, Govt of J&K has rubbed salt on their wounds by increasing the rate of flour (atta) and rice by Rs 5 per Kg.
This was stated by former minister and senior Congress leader Raman Bhalla while addressing public from Bathindi and Rajeev Nagar localities here today. He said  that with this sharp hike in the prices of food grains, common man will suffer badly. The Government must roll back its decision in the larger interest of the public.
The Congress leader slammed the Coalition Govt for enhancement in prices of these basic commodities and said that it is unfortunate on the part of Govt that without making any public announcement it has gone ahead for this move. He pointed out that Food Corporation of India (FCI)  is providing  food grains to Jammu and Kashmir on old rates, but  the State Government has suddenly increased the rates of ‘atta’ by 62% and rice by  50%  without making any public announcement much to the shock of common man.
While criticizing Govt for this anti- poor stance, Bhalla said that Govt without any intimation has hiked the price of rice from Rs 10 to Rs 15 a kg, thus a hike of Rs 5 per kg under APL category. Similarly, increase in wheat prices of Rs 3 per kg has been sanctioned by the Government. With the sudden and sharp increase in the prices of CAPD ‘atta’ and rice by Rs 5 per kilogram in the State, a strong resentment is brewing among the general consumers in the State against the PDP-BJP coalition Government. Rates of ration being given under Mufti Mohd Sayeed Scheme (MMSS) in the State have been increased from existing Rs 7.80  to Rs 13 per kg  and that of rice from Rs 10 per kg to Rs 15 per kg now. It clearly indicated that hapless consumers of the State have been made to shell out extra money to purchase ration from Govt depots  under the new PDP led Govt’s popular  “Mufti Mohd Scheme”.

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