The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam will support the Food Security Bill only if it does not infringe on existing rights of Tamil Nadu, said party leader M. Karunanidhi on Friday.
In a statement here, he said the Centre should not impose its provisions on State governments, but should allow them to implement it depending on the situation existing in every State.
“It is a constructive approach on the part of the Centre to bring in a law to create a right to food security and ameliorating the conditions of the people at least 60 years after independence. The Centre should keep these aspects in mind and make amendments to suit the requirements of every State,” he said.
Recalling Chief Minister Jayalalithaa’s apprehension that Tamil Nadu was covering 90 per cent of the people under the Public Distribution System (PDS) and the new act would reduce the figure to 67.5%, Mr. Karunanidhi said her arguments could not be ignored.
He said, even she had only sought adequate amendments and had not demanded total rejection of the Bill.
“In the case of FDI in retail sector, she made it clear that she would not allow it to be implemented in Tamil Nadu. But as far as the Food Security Bill is concerned she has not taken such a stringent stand,” he said. He also said there was no truth in the allegation that the DMK had betrayed the interests of Tamil Nadu by taking an ambiguous position on the Food Security Bill.
