MADURAI: The BJP today held a demonstration near Madurai district collectorate here today- on August 29th 2023- alleging that large scale smuggling of rice and essential items meant for ration shops is taking place in Madurai city. It had criticized the DMK government for failing to take any action against those who are indulging in diverting of essential food items from ration shops.
Led by BJP’s Madurai City unit district president Mr.Maha Suseendhran, the protest was held near the Thiruvalluvar statue (Anna Bus Stand near collectorate) in which party functionaries took part in the protest organized by women’s wing and cooperative wing of Madurai urban district. They raised slogans that the police too are targeting the BJP functionaries who are complaining about the smuggling and corruption taking place in ration shops in various ration shops in Madurai.
“Ration shops are meant for the poor people. The essential items like rice etc which are to be given to ration card holders under the Public Distribution System is being smuggled by middlemen to the black market. Rice supplied to State government by the Narendra Modi government from union government quota is also not being distributed to people properly. Where is this rice going? What is the DMK government doing and what action being taken by civil supplies department and police,” BJP Madurai Urban District president Mr.Maha.Suseendhran had asked.
He said that specific complaints with all evidence was given to the Madurai District Collector one month back itself, but action was not taken till now. The ration shop at Jaihindpuram-Jeeva Nagar ration shop number 826 in Madurai city was one of the examples cited by the BJP here stating that rice is being smuggled.
“We will intensify our protest in Madurai and hold demonstration in front of all the 1,394 ration shops in Madurai city. Our party functionary Mari Pandi was assaulted for raising protest against rice smuggling in Jaihindpuram here. The accused were left but the police is targeting BJP cadres,” Mr.Maha.Suseendhran had charged.
Among those who participated in the demonstration include Madurai urban district BJP office-bearers Rajkumar, Balakrishnan, Meena, Pari Raja, Senthilvel, Baskaran, Ravichandra Pandian and others.
