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Leaders from four Left Parties, who have been demanding universalisation of the Public Distribution System and changes in the Food Security Bill including doing away with the 'below poverty line' system, called on Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh here today and submitted a charter of demands. Communist Party of India (Marxist) General Secretary Prakash Karat said the Left Parties have submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister, asking for radical changes in the targeted Public Distribution System and Food Security Bill. " The Left Parties had conducted a countrywide movement for Food Security and to bring a suitable Food Security law. In this connection, we met the Prime Minister today on behalf of four Left Parties. We have submitted a memorandum to him in which we have asked for radical changes in the law or legislation, which has been presented to Parliament," Karat told mediapersons outside the Prime Minister's official, 7 Race Course Road residence. Karat said that they had raised the issue surrounding the price of foodgrains to the Prime Minister. "Secondly, the price of foodgrains. We want 35 kilograms of foodgrains for every family per month and Rs. two per kilo whether it is rice or wheat. The present draft provides for Rs. three per kilo. We pointed out to the Prime Minister that eight states are already providing rice at Rs. two and even one. So, it will be bad for the country to have a law. By law you are increasing the price of the rice supply to the states," he said. Karat said that they also put forward some other questions before the Prime Minister about the farmers getting a remunerative price on the basis of the Swaminathan Commission. "We raised other questions also to the Prime Minister about farmers getting a remunerative price on the basis of the Swaminathan Commission recommendation," said Karat. "The Prime Minister said that on these issues, particularly the targetting and doing away with the targeted Public Distribution System, he will examine the matter. There have already been other proposals, which they are considering. After the Standing Committee finishes their scrutiny of the bill, there will be opportunity again to look into the matter," he added. The Left Parties, who have accused the Congress-led UPA Government of being insensitive to the concerns of the common man, have been demanding universalisation of the Public Distribution System and changes in the Food Security Bill. They have also charged the ruling UPA Government of exporting foodgrains as cattle feed and not supplying foodgrains to the malnourished. Over the last five days, CPI (M) leaders Sitaram Yechury and Brinda Karat, CPI National Secretary Amarjeet Kaur and several other left leaders have criticized the Central Government, and pointed out the fact that while the government is unwilling to supply foodgrains to all the deserving people in our country in the name of 'excessive subsidies', it does not mind providing 'incentives' to the rich in our country. Peasants, agricultural workers and common people from Rajasthan, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh participated in the dharna called by the Left Parties.

Left leaders submit demands to Prime Minister