Chennai: Revenue minister K A Sengottaiyan on Thursday triggered a debate in the assembly saying that the rice supplied in the ration shops was used only as animal feed. DMK as well as AIADMK members objected the remarks and asked Sengottaiyan not to demean people who consume ration rice.“The entire country knows that the rice given in ration shops is used as feed for goat and hen,” Sengottaiyan told the assembly. Former DMK minister M R K Panneerselvam intervened stating that even (former DMK minister) K N Nehru was consuming ration rice. Immediately, Nehru too rose and said since he was diabetic, doctors had advised him to consume ration rice.Recalling his stint as food minister in 1996, Nehru said back then the rice used to be black but now the quality had improved. “The reason for large number of people consuming ration rice is because it is healthy for diabetic people. You (Sengottaiyan) say you drink amla juice every morning for its health benefits. Similarly people consume ration rice,” Nehru said.PWD minister Aadhav Arjuna endorsed Sengottaiyan’s remark. “90% of the people don’t consume ration rice. Its because of this, we are encouraging farmers to cultivate good quality paddy,” Aadhav said.Former AIADMK minister Kamaraj intervened and said Tamil Nadu was the only state in the country to have a universal PDS system while other states have only targeted PDS systems. “So senior ministers should not demean people consuming ration rice in this manner,’’ he said.DMK leader E V Velu too echoed the view. “Being a senior and the leader of the house, it is inappropriate to insult those eating ration rice,” Velu told Sengottaiyan.Following the backlash, Sengottaiyan said his remarks were based on inputs he received from people. “People in villages have said that when the rice supplied in ration shops lacks quality, they use it as animal feed. Our intention is to encourage cultivation of good quality rice. Don’t conclude that I had insulted people who are consuming it,” Sengottaiyan said.
