The West Bengal unit of All India Fair Price Shop Dealers Federation has called for an indefinite relay hunger strike in food shops in or adjacent areas to Kolkata from 16 February against the Centre’s plan to scrap subsidies in the ration system and introduce Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), food coupons, and e-rupee.
Photo: IANS
The West Bengal unit of All India Fair Price Shop Dealers Federation has called for an indefinite relay hunger strike in food shops in or adjacent areas to Kolkata from 16 February against the Centre’s plan to scrap subsidies in the ration system and introduce Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), food coupons, and e-rupee.
The state committee of the federation in a statement after the meeting said on Tuesday that the protest has been going on since the beginning of February, by continuously closing ration shops in Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts.
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This programme has been taken to expand that movement across the state.
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The organisation’s national general secretary Biswambhar Basu alleged that the central government’s move threatens to dismantle the subsidy system in the ration system and introduce a cash transfer and coupon-based system.
The issued statement further said that the interests of the dealers have been undermined in the past by taking advantage of the organisational weakness.
Sources said that there are plans afoot to file a special leave petition in the Supreme Court if necessary.
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