Centre's interest in food security only for votes: Narendra Modi

SURAT: A day before the Union Cabinet is slated to consider an ordinance to implement the ambitious National Food Security Bill, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today accused the Centre of caring only about votes and not abiding by the Supreme Court's directives on grain distribution.

"Now for votes, they are talking of various laws...but despite the Supreme Court saying `give grains to the poor', they did not do that. And what did they do? Gave the rotting grain at 65 paise a kilo to alcohol manufacturers," Modi said at the inaugural function of an agro mall here.

"If they were so bothered about the poor, they should have followed what the Supreme Court said," he said, charging Congress with failure in distributing the grain which lay rotting in godowns.

The poor continue to grapple with soaring prices of essential commodities, Modi said and alleged no action had been taken by the Centre yet on the recommendations of a committee headed by him, constituted at the Prime Minister's behest two and half years ago to suggest measures to control the price hike.

Modi said one of the recommendations was trifurcation of Food Corporation of India, with separate entities in charge of procurement, management and distribution but it was not acted upon.

A similar trifurcation of power sector in Gujarat led to phenomenal results, he said.