AAP leaders in Kapurthala vow to resist Centre’s move to cancel ration cards

Leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Kapurthala district have strongly condemned the Union government’s reported decision to cancel ration cards in Punjab, terming it an attack on the rights of the poor. They pledged to launch a vigorous campaign to protect beneficiaries and ensure that no needy family is deprived of food security.

At a press conference in Kapurthala, constituency in-charge Advocate Karmbir Singh Chandi, Nagar Sudhar Trust chairman and Sultanpur Lodhi constituency in-charge Sajjan Singh Cheema, Bhulath constituency in-charge Advocate Harsimran Singh Ghumman, Phagwara constituency in-charge Harnoor Singh Harji Maan, district media in-charge Inderjit Singh Jugnu, Kisan Wing Doaba zone secretary Sukhwant Singh Padda, and Sultanpur organisation in-charge Akashdeep Singh jointly condemned the Centre’s move.

The AAP leaders alleged that while the Union government claims to provide free ration to 80 crore citizens nationwide, it is simultaneously attempting to deprive lakhs of families in Punjab by cancelling 11 lakh ration cards. They warned that nearly 66,000 ration cardholders in Kapurthala alone stand to lose their entitlement, reportedly on the grounds of incomplete KYC formalities.

“The Aam Aadmi Party is the party of common people and will never allow such injustice to Punjab’s needy,” they stated. The leaders accused successive central governments of treating Punjab unfairly and described the latest move as an attempt to snatch food from the mouths of the poor.

They affirmed that under the leadership of AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, party in-charge Munish Sisodia, and state president Aman Arora, the party would resist the ration card cancellations. “The BJP government’s sinister plan will not succeed at any cost. If necessary, AAP will launch a strong agitation against the Centre,” the statement concluded.