National

Ration dealers surrender licences

Kolkata: More than 5,500 ration dealers in West Bengal en masse surrendered their licences to the local authorities on Monday. They were protesting against attacks on them and their colleagues over the past few weeks by those alleging malpractices in the public distribution system.

There are 20,372 ration dealers in the State. Those who have not yet done so will surrender their licences unless security is provided to them and their colleagues in the face of violence in certain parts of south Bengal, a spokesman of the All-India Fair Price Shop Dealers’ Federation said here.

This could plunge the public distribution system, particularly in the districts of south Bengal, into a major crisis, it is being feared.

The Federation, which has also blamed the Centre for cutting down on allotments of foodgrains for the public distribution system in the State, has demanded the setting up of a committee to inquire into the allegations of anomalies in the rationing system that should include some of its representatives.

Despite an assurance from the State government that steps will be taken to prevent attacks on ration dealers, violence was continuing and the ration dealers were feeling insecure, the spokesman said.

Members of the Federation are to meet Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhatacharjee on Tuesday to discuss the situation. The latter had condemned the attacks and said the government was taking action against those guilty of malpractices.

The leadership of the Socialist Unity Centre of India has called for a 12-hour Statewide strike on October 30.

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