Following the Central Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI) registration of a First Information Report (FIR) concerning alleged discrepancies involving Rs 28 crore in rice distribution in the capital, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has called for an inquiry into the involvement of Delhi’s Food and Supplies Minister, Manjinder Singh Sirsa.
During a press briefing on Tuesday, AAP’s Delhi state president, Saurabh Bharadwaj, accused officials of misappropriating rations intended for the city’s most vulnerable populations, including migrant workers.
Bharadwaj was quoted by PTI stating, “A letter from the North Eastern Regional Agricultural Marketing Corporation (NERAMAC) explicitly indicated that the rice was designated for daily wage earners. It also reveals that the food and supplies department did not merely send a letter to the Food Corporation of India (FCI) but issued a formal no-objection certificate for subsidized rice to be allocated to the needy, which was eventually handed over to a businessman from Haryana in exchange for a commission.”
Last month, AAP accused the BJP-led government in Delhi of orchestrating a “rice scam” involving subsidized food grains meant for the underprivileged. In response, Sirsa has characterized these allegations as unfounded and defamatory.
He further insisted that the CBI should investigate Sirsa regarding NERAMAC officials who visited the Delhi Secretariat, as well as the individuals met by these representatives.
AAP previously stated that not a single kilogram of rice sent by the FCI for Delhi’s impoverished citizens was distributed. Bharadwaj claimed, “The amount of rice involved is not just 31,000 metric tonnes; it exceeds that figure. In fact, 50,645 metric tonnes of rice has been misappropriated.”
In a related development, AAP representatives also approached Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu, requesting an investigation by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) and the Vigilance Department into alleged scams concerning bicycles and health services linked to the governing party.
“As the ACB and Vigilance fall under the LG’s jurisdiction, we expect him to verify the issues we’ve raised. If he discovers any wrongdoing, he will initiate an FIR. This was our primary request to him. We also informed the LG about the rice scam and insisted that Minister Sirsa should be scrutinized, as his name has surfaced in this case,” Bharadwaj noted.
The Indian Express has reached out to Sirsa for his comments on these developments.
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