The government has cancelled motor vehicle permits of 2,027 vehicles and driving licences of 1,013 persons involved in smuggling of commodities meant for the public distribution system (PDS) in the State, according to Food Minister A.V. Velu.
Reacting to AIADMK general secretary Jayalalithaa's charge of rice smuggling in Tiruvannamalai, Mr. Velu said the District Collector had clarified that the rice found in the truck, which collided with a government bus, was not ration rice.
Apart from cancellation of permits and driving licences, the government had convicted 93 persons under Essential Commodities Act in the past four years whereas not even one person was convicted for smuggling of essential commodities during the AIADMK rule, he said.
On September 1, an AIADMK functionary from Thiruvottiyur was arrested for smuggling rice in his own vehicle, said Mr. Velu asking the Leader of the Opposition not to level baseless allegations against him to divert the attention of people.
