On the second day today, people from Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Haryana joined the five-day long dharna by the Left parties demanding an immediate legislation on food security.
Brinda Karat, CPI(M) Polit Bureau member, Amarjeet Kaur, CPI National Secretary, RSP leader Premachandran, AIFB MP Narahari Mahato were among the leaders who highlighted the apathy of the government towards the poor.
"The government, instead of supplying foodgrains to the hungry and malnourished people of our country, is keen on exporting foodgrains where it is used to feed cattle", the leaders said.
They also criticised the government for its alleged failure to provide ration cards to the needy and it was "intent on dismantling" the entire Public Distribution System (PDS).
"More than 50 per cent of our agricultural labourers, 61 per cent dalits and 55 per cent adivasis don't have either the BPL or the Antyodaya cards. This itself means that the majority of the poor in our society are denied access even to that nominal PDS that exists in our country," the leaders said.
"Instead of strengthening the PDS, the government is bent upon wiping out even the existing structure. This exposes the true character of Congress and UPA government," they said.
