New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s brother Prahlad Modi kept his word as he staged a dharna to press for various demands of the All India Fair Price Shop Dealers’ Federation (AIFPSDF).
Prahlad, who is vice-president of the federation, gathered with several other members of AIFPSDF at Jantar Mantar, holding banners and raising slogans.
He informed that the federation will meet the Prime Minister soon to apprise him of its demands.
“A delegation of AIFPSDF will submit a memorandum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, listing our long-standing demands for the sake of our survival. With the current situation of hike in the cost of living and overhead expenditures for running shops, a raise of mere 20 paise per kg in our margin is a cruel joke. We request the Union government to grant us relief and end our financial miseries,” Prahlad said.
AIFPSDF national general secretary Biswambhar Basu told PTI that they will also meet Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Wednesday.
Among AIFPSDF’s long-standing demands are compensation for loss on rice, wheat and sugar, and also edible oils and pulses to be supplied through fair price shops.
The federation has also demanded that the ‘West Bengal Ration Model’ of free distribution be implemented across the country.
“We also demand that edible oil, pulses and LPG gas cylinders be supplied through fair price shops. Rural areas’ fair price shop dealers should be allowed to function as direct procurement agents for rice and wheat. Our demands were also raised by TMC MP Sougata Roy in Parliament,” said Basu, adding that protests will continue until their demands are met.
