A solution to the controversy over the alleged diversion of food grains allocated to the State will soon emerge, Union Minister of State for Agriculture K.V. Thomas and State Finance Minister T.M. Thomas Isaac have said.
Talking to reporters after a closed door meeting prior to a public function at Thanneermukkom here on Sunday, Dr. Isaac and Prof. Thomas said both the State and Central Governments still stuck to their respective stances on the issue. However, both the Governments were on the same truck as far as provision of adequate food grains to the people of Kerala was concerned. Discussions would be held shortly and the stalemate would be resolved, they said.
Prof. Thomas had earlier charged the Kerala Government with diversion of rice and wheat allocated to the State for public distribution. However, the State denied the charges, with Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan stating that the Union Minister was trying to hide the Centre’s failure to shoulder its responsibility to supply grains to the State. Dr. Isaac had accused the Centre of trying to weaken the public distribution system in the State by selling wheat in the open market system, where it sold grains to private traders.
Both Prof. Thomas and Dr. Isaac came together for a function organized to launch an aquaculture project of the Thaneermukkom panchayat near Cherthala here on Sunday. They held a closed door meeting for over 30 minutes before talking to the media. Both shared the dais later.