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Journalism of Courage
NEW DELHI, April 23: Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) spokesperson Kiran Choudhry today dismissed as a joke the promise made by minister of food and supplies Poornima Sethi that ration cards will be issued in 48 hours.
She said that the clause that henceforth ration cards would be issued only on the recommendation of MLAs, was aimed at benefiting the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party during this election year.
“This will increase the MLAs’ interference in the functioning of the rationing offices. Touts will become active while those who are genuinely in need will not benefit,” claimed Kiran Choudhury in a statement released to the media.
The DPCC spokesperson further alleged that during the four and a half years of BJP rule, the government used to issue ration cards between the 16th and the 31st of each month to those who deposited applications in the first half of the month. This change in policy, Choudhary claimed, was aimed as a tactic in the forthcoming elections.
She also demanded that the Election Commission remove all food and supply officers of the Delhi government who have been appointed assistant electoral roll officers. This, Choudhary claimed, was necessary to stop bogus votes being polled during the coming assembly elections.
She also appealed to the Prime Minister to check issuing of bogus ration cards to help put an end to bogus voting. The influx of these cards, she added, affected genuine card holders as the ration was distributed on a first-come-first-served basis.
She demanded that fresh ration cards be issued on the recommendation and attestation of a gazetted officer or an oath commissioner. She also called for the removal of the ban imposed on ration cards of jhuggis. Choudhary threatened to launch a mass movement and move the court if the state goverment ignored these demands.
