The BJP on Wednesday said it would stage protests in each village of the State against massive irregularities in identification of beneficiaries and distribution of ration cards under the National Food Security Act (NFSA).
Senior party leader Bijay Mohapatra said that while there is no provision for withdrawal of ration cards under the NFSA, the State Government asking people to return cards is grossly illegal. He said this at Press conference here.
He said there have been scores of allegations against MlAs, Mayors and civic body Chairpersons about illegal possession of ration cards. After the allegations, they have announced to withdraw their ration cards.
“The Government is empowered to decide inclusion and exclusion of the beneficiary as per the eligibility norms laid down in the NFSA. Besides, there is a provision for legal action against the beneficiary if he/she has fraudulently acquired the ration card. But those, including the political leaders, who have illegally got the ration cards in their names, are now saying that they would return the cards, which is utterly ridiculous as there is no such provision in NFSA,” Mohapatra claimed.
He also stated that the advertisement recently released by the State Government in newspapers asking the ineligible beneficiaries to return their ration cards within 15 days is too illegal.