BJP involved with ration mafia: AAP

‘Shocking that BJP was defending those responsible for large-scale corruption’

AAP spokesperson Saurabh Bharadwaj

The Aam Aadmi Party on Tuesday said that the Bharatiya Janata Party was involved with the ration mafia as it had welcomed the recent cancellation of ration cards.

AAP spokesperson Saurabh Bharadwaj said: “BJP is hand-in-glove with the ration mafia and its stand welcoming the cancellation of ration cards has exposed its anti-poor character.”

‘Large-scale corruption’

Referring to the Delhi Food and Civil Supplies Department’s decision to cancel 2.93 lakh ration cards, Mr. Bharadwaj said it was shocking that the BJP was defending the officers “responsible for large-scale corruption” in ration distribution.

While the Department said that it had decided to cancel the ration cards after following the due process, the AAP dispensation on Monday had come out against the move. The party alleged that proper inspections were not carried out to verify if a ration card holder was genuine or fake.

“Why are the BJP, their appointed L-G and the officers concerned silent on the primary question that even if a single ration card was found to be fake, then which employee or officer was responsible for it,” asked Mr. Bharadwaj, adding that these ration cards were made during the tenure of former Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit.

He said a large number of ration card holders had trouble getting their rations when the government started using e-point of sale devices linked to Aadhaar earlier this year. When the system was halted, beneficiaries were asked to submit documents like current electricity bills of the residential address mentioned in their cards, he said.

“There is a large population of poor families who have migrated from States like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh to Delhi for work. They stay in rented rooms in urban villages, unauthorised colonies etc and keep changing their accommodation. How can poor people keep updating their Aadhaar cards and other documents,” he asked.

He added that this led to a large number of genuine beneficiaries having their names struck off the list.