The Congress-ruled States would enact the new Lokayukata legislation by 28th February next year. A decision in this regard was taken at the meeting of Chief Ministers of the party-ruled States in New Delhi on Friday. Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi chaired the meeting.

In a Press Conference with the Chief Ministers and other senior leaders, Mr. Gandhi hit out at the Opposition for not supporting the government in passing important bills in Parliament to eliminate corruption. He said, the Opposition does loud talking on corruption, but remains silent how to fight the menace.

Mr. Gandhi said, the Congress is very serious about tackling it and asked political parties to join hands to create a framework to fight the problem.
Congress General Secretary, Ajay Maken said, party-ruled States will de-list fruits and vegetables from their Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee Act by the 15th of next month. He said, this will enable farmers to sell products at a place of their choice and in the process, consumers will get benefits of lower prices of the products.

Mr Maken also said, Congress-ruled States will also invoke Essential Commodities Act to deal strictly with hoarding, black marketing and profiteering.

The Party-ruled States will have to immediately implement reforms of the Public Distribution System that are stipulated in the National Food Security Act 2013. Mr Maken said, the aim is to eliminate leakages and ensure food grains reach to the beneficiaries.
AIR correspondent reports, the Congress Chief Ministers' meeting was the first major poll exercise after the recent Assembly elections.

Besides Chief Ministers of eleven out of twelve party-ruled States, the meeting was also attended by senior party leaders A K Antony, Sushilkumar Shinde, P. Chidambaram, Ahmed Patel, Jairam Ramesh, Digvijay Singh, Janardan Dwivedi, Kapil Sibal and K V Thomas.