Date:07/01/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/01/07/stories/2006010718481400.htm

National

Anti-poor step, says CPI(M)

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: Terming the Government's decision to cut food subsidy a "very retrograde move" the Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Friday demanded that the "anti-poor measure" be reversed.

In a statement, the party Polit Bureau said the move to cut the food subsidy by Rs. 4524 crores by reducing the quantity of wheat and rice issued through the PDS and Antyodaya Anna Yojana was "a betrayal of the UPA Government's commitment to the people."

The move will adversely affect millions of people at a time when calorie consumption was declining and nutritional deficiencies were on the increase, it said.

Further, the move would limit the turnover of the Food Corporation of India and affect its ability to undertake procurement at minimum support prices. At a time when farmers were facing an agrarian crisis, the attempt should be to ensure stable prices, the statement said.