Kottayam, Tuesday 26 January 2009: The Civil Supplies Minister C. Divakaran has termed as unfair the criticism levelled against the Kerala State Civil Supplies Corporation.

Speaking at the opening of the newly sanctioned Maveli Store under Supplyco at Vijayapuram panchayat here, the Minister said that the Civil Supplies corporation was an institution which basically works for the interests of the common man. As such it was the duty of every citizen to protect the Corporation, he said.

The Minister said that the move to denigrate the Corporation should be viewed as an affront to people’s interests.

The price rise of essential articles was a nationwide phenomenon which was created and abetted by the policies of the Central government and added that the Corporation could effectively intervene in the market to hold the prices in the State as was proved by the fact that the price rise for essential articles, was less in Kerala, compared to other States.