THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Food Minister GR Anil will hold discussions with ration traders at 2 pm on Monday. Yesterday, the minister had requested the traders to back out from their plan to shut down shops as part of a protest.

As of now, 256 ration shops have started operations since 8 am today. The Food Minister has directed to open of control rooms in all districts. The government has decided to launch more than forty mobile ration shops tomorrow. It was earlier announced that the ration traders' organizations will go on strike by closing their shops for an indefinite period from today.

The State Food Commission has warned that legal action will be taken if the distribution of ration is obstructed.

Ration Dealers Co-ordination State Committee Chairman G. Stephen MAA and General Convener Johnny Nellore in a statement turned against the government, for the legal measure threat against traders which the committee said was misusing the democratic ethos of the country.

At present 330 ration shops are functioning under cooperative societies in the state. 156 shops in the state are run by temporary licensees. One ration shop is run by Supplyco.