In this series of posts we explain to the masses of Kerala the truth behind allegations and conspiracy theories framed by the LDF government.

STORY 1: THE “RICE” OF CORRUPTION

LDF fallacy: Will provide rice to all ration card holders (APL/BPL) at Rs.2/kg.

The Truth:

• The scheme will cost an additional amount of Rs.40 crore a month to the state and no allocation has been made for it in the state budget. A quite valid statement to prove the senselessness of the promise.
• There are no other alternative sources through which this promise could be delivered. When UDF questioned practicality of this, LDF sprung out to the media and spread the story that “UDF is opposing the implementation of the idea”. Why would UDF oppose this when it was us who introduced this concept in Kerala by implementing a scheme for distributing rice at just Rs 3/kg during our last term in government”.
• If figures from the Food Corporation of India are something to go by then the state government has lifted only 5,836 tonnes of rice till 10th march, while the total available stock for the month is 36,056 tonnes. We would love to hear an answer.
• If even a small portion of the time spend by the LDF for diverting the media were used for taking measures for development, our state would have had to go through a little less torture. That itself proves that the sudden sprout of promise to the APL category is a cheap publicity stunt done by the LDF keeping the upcoming elections in mind.

Time line

• March 1: The dates announced for the state assembly elections.
• In between : LDF starts the publicity gimmick with the latest rice bait and assigns LDF party workers the task of distributing the forms resulting in a shortage of forms at some ration stores and unavailability at many others. People who arrived for collecting forms went back home, empty handed. Social work at its very best.
• March 7: The election commission blocked the implementation of the scheme for violating the model code of conduct that came into force when the commission on March 1 announced the dates for the state assembly elections.

Questions:

• Where were the charitable minds for the past 5 years?
• What was LDF doing at those times when the poor and the needy could have really used the help?
• If APL category was always on their mind, why wasn’t there any fund allocation in the budget?

Facts:

• 83,000 tonnes to be delivered to centre pool was never delivered and had been utilized by the state.
• Central government has supplied every grain of Kerala’s quota of rice from the centre pool
• Central government allotted additional rice and wheat from the centre pool to Kerala during the festive seasons.

What more does the LDF expect the Central Government to do?
For what is this state government holding its chair for, If it cannot ensure the welfare of its citizens.

By protesting against the central government which had done everything in its power, LDF had given a new dimension to the word “Disgraceful”