TN: Karunanidhi warns Centre on ration sugar

Chennai: Days after his party jumped into the bandwagon against the Centre on the issue of FDI in retail, DMK chief M Karunanidhi, on Sunday, made yet another pitch against the Manmohan Singh government, stating that he hoped the Centre would not go ahead with any decision to suspend subsidy for sugar supplied through the public distribution system (PDS). This continuous posturing against the Centre comes at a time when one of the key constituents of the ruling UPA, the Trinamool Congress, has withdrawn support to the government.

In his question and answer statement on Sunday, the DMK patriarch pointed to reports that the Centre was mulling suspension of subsidy to sugar supplied through PDS shops in the next Cabinet meeting. While the price of sugar in ration shops was currently Rs 13.50 per kg, he said if the subsidy for sugar was fully withdrawn, the rate could touch Rs 25.17. This would also have a cascading effect on the price of sugar in the retail market as prices could go as high as Rs 55 per kg.

“Following the hike in prices of diesel and curb in LPG cylinder supply, if the Centre is even thinking of such a move, we stress that it should avoid it,” he said. Karunanidhi also advised the Centre against disinvestment of shares in public sector units. “Taking such decisions in the name of generating revenue will only affect the poor and the middle class,” he observed.

DMK chief M Karunanidhi, on Sunday, made yet another pitch against the Manmohan Singh government.

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