A day after the Tamil Nadu government announced implementation of National Food Security Act (NFSA) from November 1, PMK founder leader S Ramadoss today alleged that the state's rights had been "ceded" by agreeing to implement the Central law.
Stating that the implementation of the Act would entail an additional subsidy burden of Rs 1,200 crore on the state's finances, he said talks should be held with the Centre to amend the legislation in favour of Tamil Nadu.
"Though the Tamil Nadu government has announced that it will ensure that people of the state are not affected due to the implementation of NFSA, the state's rights have been ceded by agreeing to implement it," he alleged in a statement.
Recalling Chief Minister Jayalalithaa's opposition to the Act, Ramadoss said that the CM had written to then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in 2011 and incumbent Narendra Modi later over the issue.
"Centre did not accept any of the representations of Tamil Nadu. Under the present circumstances, by agreeing to the NFSA, the state has surrendered to the Central government," he charged.
The PMK leader said a key feature of the Food Act was replacement of food grain supply through direct subsidy disbursal in the next few years.
If this is implemented, all PDS outlets and Direct Paddy Procurement Centres will have to be shut down, he said and sought to know whether the state would also accept such a clause and "betray the people and farmers."
The AIADMK government had yesterday said it would implement the NFSA from November 1 but would retain the Universal Public Distribution System, wherein about 1.91 crore rice card holders would continue to get their entitlements.
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