Lok Sabha polls: Mallikarjun Kharge promises 10 kg free grain against NDA's 5 kg

LUCKNOW: Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday promised to double the free foodgrain being distributed to 10 kgs, if the INDIA bloc comes to power and stated that BJP's scheme and repeated claims of 5 kg free grain to 80 crore people were actually rooted in the Food Safety Act framed by the Congress regime.

While holding a joint press conference with Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav in Lucknow, Kharge said: "They keep reiterating their claim of giving 5 kg of foodgrain to 80 crore people. But, we brought the Food Security Act. Anybody can approach court if it (ration) is stopped. When the alliance government is formed, we will give 10 kgs. I can give this guarantee because we are implementing this in states." This promise is not included in the Congress' manifesto. He exuded confidence the alliance was in a strong position after four phases of elections.

Meanwhile, the BJP on Wednesday accused the Congress of making "false promises" to win the Lok Sabha elections. "Kharge is lying," senior BJP leader Arjun Ram Meghwal said.