Highlighting the hardships being faced by the people of Manipur due to water scarcity and non-distribution of rice under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) blamed the BJP government in the state.
Addressing a press conference at Imphal Congress Bhavan, MPCC spokesperson, N Bupenda Meitei alleged that the ‘improper implementation’ of policy and programme was behind the multiple hardships being faced by the people of the state.
He said the NFSA beneficiaries in Manipur have not received their monthly quotas of rice since last December. However, the rice supplied from the centre under NFSA is available in plenty in the open market at much higher prices.
Bupenda Meitei said that the central government is allocating the rice meant for NFSA without any delay.
“However, NFSA beneficiaries are not getting their monthly rice quotas for the last few months. Whether the rice has been diverted to the open market at higher prices?” he asked.
Papers speak themselves in any presentation for every rational approach.
Photos from today's press conference at Congress Bhavan in Imphal.@kharge @RahulGandhi @priyankagandhi @kcvenugopalmp @Jairam_Ramesh @BHAKTACHARANDAS @meghachandra_k@INCIndia @INCManipur pic.twitter.com/1uIloN8fVF
— Ningombam Bupenda Meitei (@BupendaMeitei) March 14, 2023
He claimed the NFSA rice is currently available in the open market at prices ranging from Rs 30 to 35 per kg.
He also asked where the rice quota for December 2022 for the state had gone. People are yet to get the rice for the month, he added.
On the other hand, during Congress rule, the Chingkhei water treatment plant was initiated and put near completion. However, even after seven years of BJP rule, the plant is yet to be commissioned, the Congress leader said.
The plant with the water source from Thoubal Dam was initiated to meet the ever-increasing safe drinking water in Imphal areas. If the plant is completed and commissioned on time, people may not face the water scarcity problem, he said.
Amid the hardships being faced by the people, the centre recently hiked the price of cooking LPG gas. This unprecedented price hike of LPG cooking gas and other essential commodities is another burden on the head of the poor people, he further said.
The MPCC spokesperson alleged that this showed that the ‘double engine’ government of the BJP has failed on all fronts in Manipur.
