Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Saturday said the fact that the DMK voted in favour of the Food Security Bill, despite the government not bringing in necessary amendments to protect the State’s interests, betrayed its double standards.
In a statement here, she said DMK president M. Karunanidhi had initially made it clear that his party would not support the Bill if the Centre did not bring in necessary amendments, but voted in its favour without such amendments.
The Centre, while approving supply of 21.88 lakh tonne rice at Rs.3 a kg, however, did not incorporate any amendment related to the price for 14.90 lakh tonne of rice, which would be over and above the State’s entitlement.
Cabinet decision
“When AIADMK member V. Maitrayen raised the issue, Food Minister K.V. Thomas said it was a Cabinet decision, explaining that it had not been included because APL is always linked to MSP,” she said.
Ms. Jayalalithaa said she had written to the Prime Minister that the Bill would be against the interests of Tamil in the absence of suitable amendments.
Reacting to Mr Karunanidhi’s question why the AIADMK did not walk out if it did not agree with the Bill, Ms. Jayalalithaa said the party had decided to vote against it, and when the voice vote was taken, its members had responded with ‘no’ votes.
