There was no let-up in the protests against the implementation of the Food Security Act in the Valley for the sixth consecutive day today as residents in various parts of the city came on roads and demanded the that the Act should not be implemented in the state.
According to government orders, the Act will be implemented in J&K from February 1, 2016.
The proposed implementation of the National Security Bill sparked protests in the Rambagh area of Srinagar, resulting in disruption of vehicular movement for hours together.
The protesters, mostly females, raised anti-government slogans and warned of agitation if the proposed Bill was implemented in state.
“We won’t let the Act get implemented in the Valley as it will deny us basic rights. We cannot afford ration from open market at higher rates. Rice is the staple food here and just 5 kg for one person is per month is not enough,” said Rehti Begum, a protester.
The government has maintained that 22.73 lakh families, comprising 119.13 lakh souls, were to be covered under the National Food Security Act in the state and the Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Department with the help of the District Development Commissioners concerned was in the process of creating a comprehensive database in this regard.
It has also appealed to people to not fall prey to any propaganda and try to take benefit of the scheme instead of protesting.
“The implementation of the National Food Security Act will go a long way in plugging the pilferages in the existing public distribution system. The elements which were thriving on the loopholes in the system are responsible for spreading canards regarding the scheme,” said Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Abdul Haq Khan.
Regarding the protests, the minister said the implementation of the NFSA would usher an era of assured supply of highly subsidised ration to the citizens of J&K at their doorstep in a transparent manner.
“Unfortunately, it is not to the liking of some vested interests who were pillaging the existing system for their own vested interests,” he said.
Such elements have been unnerved by the new mechanism of monitoring and transparency being put in place and have launched a sustained misinformation campaign on the Act, he said.
Meanwhile, the Hurriyat Conference chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani said protests by the people, who were against the implementation of the Bill were genuine.
“Whatever be the reason and purpose of implementing this Act in the state, reservation of public in this regard cannot be taken as meaningless and secondary. Until these reservations are not clarified or removed, the public reaction against this Act is genuine and use of brutal force against protesters in every way is condemnable,” Geelani said.
