Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Chief Minister
VS Achuthanandan on Wednesday termed as ‘unjustified’ the Election
Commission`s directive banning the implementation of the
state government scheme to provide rice at Rs 2 per kg to 40
lakh families.
Addressing reporters here, Achuthanandan said he had
already written to the Election Commission registering the
state government`s protest against the directive.
He said the decision to extend the scheme to APL families
was taken at the Cabinet meeting on February 23 and the
government order in this regard came out on February 25.
"There is no justification in arguing that the code of
conduct for Assembly poll which came into effect on March 1
is applicable to the Cabinet decision," he said.
After the announcement of polls in five states, Union
Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee had yesterday announced in
Parliament that girl students would be given free passes in
trains, he said, and wondered wither the code of conduct was
not applicable to the Centre.
The Chief Minister alleged that the pressure from a major
political party in the state was behind the EC decision to
deprive rice at Rs 2 per kg to poor families.
To a question on CPI-M delaying the decision on whether to
field him again to lead the LDF in the coming Assembly polls,
Achuthanandan said, "I hope those concerned will come out with
a clear stand on the matter."
PTI
