scorecardresearch
Thursday, March 28, 2024
Support Our Journalism
HomeIndiaBJP MP Varun Gandhi, Cong, SP question UP govt over ration card...

BJP MP Varun Gandhi, Cong, SP question UP govt over ration card verification guidelines

Follow Us :
Text Size:

New Delhi/Lucknow, May 21 (PTI) The Uttar Pradesh government on Saturday faced flak from the opposition Samajwadi Party, Congress, Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) and even ruling BJP MP Varun Gandhi over the ration card verification guidelines, as they accused it of abandoning the poor since the election in the state was over.

The SP alleged that the BJP government is enacting a drama so that it does not have to give ration to the poor.

”This is a new trick of the BJP to deprive the poor of ration… They grabbed power by taking the votes of the poor. Now the government should give them full ration as promised,” Akhilesh Yadav’s party tweeted.

Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate alleged that the very government which incessantly kept talking about free ration during the recent assembly polls was now implementing “ridiculous” guidelines to strip some so-called “ineligible” people of the benefit.

Shrinate also asked whether the criteria applicable at the time of distribution of ration cards was changed after they had been distributed and said if the ration cards reached the wrong beneficiaries, why should action not be taken against government officials.

BJP MP Varun Gandhi, who has contradicted the party’s official line on many issues, said, “The government will lose their credibility if all the parameters affecting the life of the common man are decided by looking at the ‘elections’ “.

”Eligible before the election and ineligible after the election?” he tweeted.

The Pilibhit MP added: “When will the government now remember the crores of countrymen who lost their ration cards as soon as the elections are over? Maybe in the next elections..!” He was reacting to UP government’s reported guidelines directing ineligible ration card-holders to return their cards or else face legal action under National Food Security Act 2013.

Uttar Pradesh Additional Chief Secretary (information) Navneet Sehgal, when asked about reports claiming that a directive was issued asking ineligible beneficiaries to surrender the ration cards by May 20, said Saturday that no such directive was issued.

“The government is only verifying them (ration cards). The verification drive of the ration cards is an ongoing process. If anybody is surrendering it is purely their decision and they are doing it voluntarily,” Sehgal said.

He added that in place of the surrendered cards, new eligible beneficiaries will get the ration cards.

The RLD alleged that by ”changing the criteria of poverty itself, the BJP government is mocking the pathetic condition of the poor in the state.

”Shameful attempt by the government working on paper to remove poverty on paper,” the party tweeted.

Shrinate claimed the guidelines issued by district supply officers and district magistrates across Uttar Pradesh specify that those with land or a house or an ox, tractor-trolley, even a motorcycle, poultry business or dairy, any financial help from the government, electricity bill or any other sources of income have to return the ration cards.

The Congress leader said “some of these guidelines are ridiculous because it says if you own a motorcycle or have a roof over your head or do a little bit of poultry business or have any other sources of income you are not eligible for a ration card and are excluded from the benefits of the Food Security Act”‘ “Elections are over in Uttar Pradesh and now the real face and true colours of the BJP are visible.

“‘The government that incessantly kept talking about free ration, printed bags with pictures of Modi and Yogi to distribute ration is today turning its back on the people,” she told reporters The Congress spokesperson said it raises the big question – will welfare schemes be made keeping elections and votes in mind and if it is so then shouldn’t questions be raised on the government’s credibility, its policies and its intentions.

“Both for Mr Modi and Mr Yogi who kept talking about free ration before elections .. are they today denying people the right to food security, especially at a time when people are struggling with high prices low wages and no jobs,” she alleged Shrinate also alleged that the “brazen attitude” of the government doesn’t just end there, as the order categorically states that if one does not submit the ration cards, the government will retrospectively recover the money for the goods they received.

“After ghar wapasi, the BJP is now focusing on ration wapasi,” she alleged. PTI SKC NAV RT

This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.

Subscribe to our channels on YouTube, Telegram & WhatsApp

Support Our Journalism

India needs fair, non-hyphenated and questioning journalism, packed with on-ground reporting. ThePrint – with exceptional reporters, columnists and editors – is doing just that.

Sustaining this needs support from wonderful readers like you.

Whether you live in India or overseas, you can take a paid subscription by clicking here.

Support Our Journalism

  • Tags

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Most Popular