Left seeks universal public distribution system

New Delhi, July 26 (IANS) The Left parties Thursday demanded a universal public distribution system and scrapping of the Planning Commission's "highly dubious poverty estimates".

The CPI, CPI-M, Forward Bloc and Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) announced a five day protest at Jantar Mantar from July 30 to demand the right to food through a universal public distribution system.

The parties asked the government to do away with BPL and APL categories in public distribution.

They also asked the government to give 35 kg of foodgrain at a maximum rate of Rs.2 a kilo to each family every month.

The eight crore foodgrain stocks with the government should be used to increased food allocation, they said.

"Scrap the Planning Commission's highly dubious poverty estimates. Do not use them as basis for allocations for welfare rights," a statement issued by the four parties said.