Lieutenant-Governor orders probe into denial of ration cards to 90K poor

Lieutenant-Governor (L-G) VK Saxena has initiated an investigation into the failure to issue ration cards to 90,000 impoverished residents, following a letter from Leader of the Opposition Vijender Gupta.

Gupta has accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government of neglecting the rights of the underprivileged and depriving them of essential food supplies.

He criticised the AAP administration, asserting, “By not providing ration cards to the poor, the Delhi Government has snatched morsels from their mouths.” He characterised the government’s actions as exploitative, particularly towards Dalits and economically disadvantaged groups.

In his recent correspondence to the L-G, Gupta highlighted the launch of the ‘Antyodaya Anna Yojana’ (AAY) under the National Food Security Act during former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s tenure. This programme aims to provide monthly rations to the poorest families, which includes 35 kg of food comprising wheat, rice and sugar.

‘Delhi govt failed to provide ration’

By not providing ration cards to the poor, the Delhi Government has snatched morsels from their mouths. It is shameful that the AAP government has failed to provide their rightful ration. —Vijender Gupta, Leader of Opposition

AAP denies allegations

Initially, the minister had temporarily suspended the preparation of ration cards to prevent misuse. However, after reviewing the policy, a circular was issued on July 27, 2020, establishing a separate queue for ration cards to ensure their priority processing. — AAP

Gupta noted that, according to the 2011 Census, 1,56,800 families in Delhi were entitled to receive this ration.

“Ten years ago, when the AAP came to power in 2015, 76,458 families were receiving ration. Today, that number has dropped to 66,532. This decline of around 10,000 families is unacceptable, especially when the number should have increased over the last decade,” Gupta lamented.

He explained that when the BJP called for the issuance of ration cards for the remaining 90,000 individuals on July 31, 2019, the Delhi Government’s Food and Civil Supplies Department prepared a list for approval. However, Gupta claimed that the minister responsible, Imran Hussain, halted the process indefinitely.

“If these 90,000 individuals had received their ration cards, they would have been entitled to 35 kg of free ration each month under PM Narendra Modi’s leadership,” Gupta stated, adding that the Kejriwal government has effectively denied them this crucial support for the past five years.

Expressing his dismay, Gupta noted, “It is shameful that the AAP government, which claims to be the well-wisher of the poor, has failed to provide their rightful ration. They have taken away the food that these families were entitled to from the Central Government.”

He said, “This administration does not want to provide healthcare under the Ayushman Bharat Yojana or ration under the Antyodaya Yojana to the poor.”

In response to the allegations, the AAP categorically rejected the baseless claims, which misrepresent the directives from the Minister of Food and Civil Supplies.

The party clarified that initially the minister had temporarily suspended the preparation of ration cards to prevent misuse. However, after reviewing the policy, a circular was issued on July 27, 2020, establishing a separate queue for AAY ration cards to ensure their priority processing.

“We deny any assertion that AAY beneficiaries have been deprived of ration. There is a dedicated process in place for issuing ration cards to AAY applicants on priority,” the party added.