Doorstep ration delivery scheme: BJP and AAP engage in a slanging match

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, June 6

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and the Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday engaged in a slanging match over the “doorstep ration delivery scheme” proposed by his government in Delhi.

He said the scheme should be implemented across the country in view of Covid-19 otherwise ration shops will act as super-spreaders.

“If pizza, burgers, smartphones and clothes can be delivered at home, then why can’t ration be delivered at their doorstep,” Kejriwal asked.

He alleged that the Centre was fighting with everyone, including West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Maharashtra, Delhi and Jharkhand governments, farmers and the people of Lakshadweep.

“People are distressed that the Central government is fighting everyone. If we fight like this, how will we tackle Covid-19,” the chief minister said in an online briefing.

“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,” Kejriwal 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 litigation was pending in the high court regarding it.

He said the scheme would have finished the powerful ration mafia in Delhi.

“If you stand with the ration mafia, who will stand with the poor people” the chief minister said, adding that the scheme was intended to benefit 72 lakh people in the national capital. 

 BJP’s Sambit Patra accused him of “doing drama for politics” and called his ‘doorstep ration delivery scheme’ a “scam”.

“Arvind Kejriwal is trying to mislead. He claims the Prime Minister is preventing door-to-door ration delivery, this is false. One nation, one ration card is a central initiative. The Delhi Government refused to implement it, denying its benefits to thousands of migrant labourers”.

Patra also countered Kejriwal questioning how he will provide doorstep delivery and ensure that the ration reaches the right people.

“They said they will take biometrics. EPOS is a machine to track ration which Kejriwal stopped in ration shops. In Delhi, Aadhaar card verification is also zero,” he said.

The BJP leader said under the national food security act 72.78 lakh people were provided ration. The Central government is giving food grains under two schemes NFSA and Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana in Delhi and that they cannot be tampered with. “If Kejriwal wants to start another scheme let him buy the grain and do so,” Patra added.   

 — With PTI