Amma Hastam, an attention diversion plan

Hyderabad, April 12,
2013: Describing the Amma Hastam programme launched by Chief Minister Kiran
Kumar Reddy as a plan to divert the attention of people from the skyrocketing
prices of essential commodities, the YSR Congress Legislature Party faulted the
Government’s announcement that the scheme would reduce the financial burden of
the people by 37 per cent.

“It is highly
preposterous for Government to say that people would save money by 37 per cent
through the Amma Hastam scheme while the prices of all essential commodities
have gone up by 500 per cent after Kiran Kumar has taken over as CM,” YSRCLP
said in a statement on Thursday.

While the Government
had reduced the number of essential commodities supplied through ration shops
log ago, it is now boasting that more commodities are being supplied through
the Amma Hastham scheme, said the statement signed by YSRCLP deputy floor
leaders Sobha Nagi Reddy, Dharmana Krishna Das and Mekatoti Sucharita.  “This is all ridiculous,” they said.

Seeking an explanation
from the Government why it had reduced the supply of kerosene from 4 Lt to 2 Lt
and sugar from 1 kg to ½ kg while increasing their rates, the YSRCLP demanded
it to supply all essential commodities including rice as per its promise made
in the 2009 election manifesto.

The MLAs have also said
the Government’s announcement on the prices of essential commodities in the open
market was also wrong. “If the Government thinks it has made the correct
statement, it should send its representatives to visit the open market to study
the prices in the open market,” they said, adding it should immediately respond
the proposal if it has any guts and wits.