Taking strong exception of the allegations levelled by Congress State president Bhupesh Baghel on Chhattisgarh’s public distribution system (PDS), senior BJP leaders have criticised him by terming his statement ‘as an attempt to revive the Congress which is struggling for its existence in the State.
BJP State vice-president Sachchidanand Upasane said that Baghel’s demand of resignation from Chief Minister Raman Singh and his Cabinet Ministers as mere a ‘gimmick’.While justifying the cancellation of ineligible ration cards, he said that the ineligible ration cards holders are causing a loss to the State exchequer.He said that the State Government is trying to make the PDS more transparent and such allegations will not deter it from making the system transparent.
BJP State general secretary Shivratan Sharma said that Baghel’s statements are a reflection of his ‘anti-poor mentality.’He said that the issue is being publicised by Baghel in a bid to revive Congress prior to urban body elections.Sharma said that Baghel has threatened to take the issue to the court and by doing this, he will deprive poor people of food.
He said that Baghel is not in the interest of uplift and development of poor people which is making him criticise the PDS of the State .Sharma said the PDS is benefiting a large number of families and is being deliberately pushed into legal complications by Baghel.State BJP spokesperson Bhupendra Savanni termed the statement as ‘petty politics’.He said that Chhattisgarh is the first State to introduce Chhattisgarh State Food and Nutrition Security Act 2012 to provide food for poor people.
BJP State secretary Sanjay Srivastava said the cancellation of ineligible ration cards, issued due to departmental mistake, is a right move.Ineligible ration cards holders are causing a loss to the State exchequer and hence such ration cards should be cancelled, he said.Srivastava said that the Chief Minister has clarified that ration cards of eligible families will not be cancelled but those of ineligible candidates will be cancelled and action will be taken against the concerned officials for issuing such cards.
