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Bhubaneswar: Terming Odisha government's announcement of Re 1 a kg rice scheme as a "panic reaction" ahead of the Food Security Bill, Opposition Congress on Saturday asked Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to provide dal, edible oil and other essential items to poor families at a subsidised price.
"Chief Minister's announcement of Re 1 a kg rice scheme is nothning but a panic reaction before UPA government tables Food Security Bill in Parliament," Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Niranjan Patnaik said.
While reacting to the Chief Minister's announcement at the Republic Day function at Cuttack, OPCC president said Congress had pledged in its 2009 election manifesto to give rice at the rate of Re 1 to poor families.
This apart, the Congress leader said poor families will get rice at the rate of Rs 3 per kg and wheat at Rs 2 a kg after passage of the Food Security Bill.
Noting that the announcement of Re 1 a kg rice before elections was a sign of "panic reaction," said Patnaik, adding that the state government would save about Rs 500 crore per annum when the Food Security Bill is passed.
