Depot holders up in arms
Jalandhar, February 2
Demanding the right to distribute ration and other benefits to beneficiaries, the depot holders of the city today organised a protest against the state government in front of District Food and Civil Supply office.
The protest was headed by district congress committee president Rajinder Berry. The protestors also raised anti-government slogans.
While addressing the gathering, he said the state government seems to have snatched the right to distribute ration under various schemes from the depot holder. Instead the ration is being distributed by the Food and Civil Supply inspector, which he alleged was not a legitimate practice.
“The quota of kerosene oil for distribution in the Jalandhar city has been reduced drastically, however the quota of kerosene oil has been increased in the districts, including Tarn Taran, Bathinda and Fazilka, which is a sheer discrimination,” he alleged. Berry also accused the inspectors of being dishonest while distributing the grains to blue card holders. Harbhajan Singh, who has a ration depot at the Gopal Nagar locality for the past 37 years, said, “We have been facing the trouble from the state government for over a year. The inspectors are themselves distributing the grains and other stuff to the beneficiaries. The depot holder at least should be asked to be part of the distribution process.” —TNS
