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"Such reports have hidden the truth and misrepresented the facts. They will lower the country's prestige," Vajpayee said addressing a mammoth rally in Nagla Chanderbhan in Uttar Pradesh after launching the 'Sampoorna Gramin Rozgar Yojana' (SGRY) in this backward village, around 25 kms from Mathura city.
"When investigated, not only were foodgrains found in some houses but the people also had some bank balance," he said launching the SGRY scheme in the birthplace of Jan Sangh founder Deen Dayal Upadhyaya on the occasion of his birth anniversary.
He asked people not to fall prey to such reports and urged political parties not to make starvation a political issue.
The prime minister had announced the SGRY in his Independence Day address. It is a centrally sponsored scheme involving an annual expenditure of about Rs 10,000 crore (Rs 100 billion) to provide additional employment and ensure food security in rural areas.
"We are making arrangements for supply of foodgrains to all besides providing them with some money. We are determined to ensure that no one sleeps without food," he said.
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