The Aam Admi Party on Saturday alleged that the Centre has scrapped the Delhi government’s flagship ration home delivery system, in a move that could trigger another face-off between the two sides. The Narendra Modi government stopped the scheme, saying Delhi had not taken prior permission for it.
The Arvind Kejriwal government notified the scheme on February 20 under the ‘Mukhya Mantri Ghar Ghar Ration Yojna’ (MMGGRY) of the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) of the National Food Security Act, 2013, and was to implement it from next week. The scheme was expected to benefit around 72 lakh people in the national capital.
"Mr Prime Minister, what kind of an arrangement do you have with the ration mafia that you had to stop the Kejriwal government's 'Ghar Ghar Ration Scheme'?,” the AAP asked in a tweet.
In March, the Centre had asked the Delhi government not to implement the scheme, saying it is "not permissible" to use subsidised food grain allotted under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) for a state scheme.
The central government had also raised a concern that the doorstep delivery of ration could result in ration card holders buying grains and other necessities at a higher rate than what is fixed under a central law.
In response to this, Kejriwal had said that the scheme would not have any name and that his government would accept all conditions of the Centre for implementing it.
"Perhaps they had objection over Mujhya Mantri word. We are not doing this for credit or to polish our names. So now the scheme will have no name. There will be a Cabinet meeting on Monday and its proposal will be sent to the Centre," he had said.
Kejriwal had further claimed it was very important for him to ensure ration delivery to poor people by removing ration mafia from the public distribution system.
