A day after the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Delhi claimed that the Central government blocked its plans to launch doorstep delivery of rations, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday accused the Centre of taking the step under the “influence” of the ration mafia, and asked: “If pizza, burgers, smartphones and clothes can be delivered at home, then why can’t ration be delivered at their doorstep?”
“For the first time, a government had taken a step to check on ration mafia. See how powerful they (ration mafia) are, they got the scheme cancelled just a week ahead of its implementation,” Kejriwal said. “Why are you so sympathetic to these ration mafia?” he asked.
CM Kejriwal said, “In 75 years till date no government has dared to end this (ration) mafia. For the first time in Delhi, a government has come, which showed this courage. If this scheme is implemented, the ration mafia would end.”
Addressing a digital press conference, the Delhi CM also disputed the Centre’s claim that his government did not take permission for
the implementation of the scheme. “The Delhi government did not require the Centre’s approval for the implementation of the scheme, but it sought permission five times to avoid any dispute,” he said.
The Delhi government on Saturday had claimed the doorstep delivery of ration scheme was rejected by the Lt Governor saying the Centre’s approval was not sought and that a case was pending in the High Court regarding the same.
The doorstep ration delivery scheme, Kejriwal said, would have benefitted 72 lakh ration beneficiaries in the national capital. “People are distressed that the Central government is fighting everyone. If we fight like this, how will we tackle Covid-19? Let me implement the scheme, I will give full credit to you (Prime Minister Narendra Modi). Ration neither belongs to AAP nor the BJP… With folded hands, I on behalf of 70 lakh poor people in Delhi request you to let us implement the scheme,” he said.
The Delhi CM also alleged that the Centre was fighting with everyone, including Mamata Banerjee (West Bengal CM), Maharashtra, Delhi and Jharkhand governments, farmers and the people of Lakhsadweep.
BJP leader Sambit Patra retorted the AAP’s allegations and said: “We don’t even know to whom the ration is being distributed. I would say that a prospective scam was stopped in the nick of time. Kejriwal wanted to divert the ration. He wanted to do a huge scam. For, there’s no information as to who would have got the ration. It’s not linked to Aadhaar or any such system. If the Central government had given the green signal to this scheme, then the people of Delhi would have got wheat and rice at eight to ten times higher rate.”
Patra further reminded how the Kejriwal government refused to forward the provision of One Nation-One Ration Card, due to which thousands of labourers are deprived of taking ration today.