Congress workers on Sunday threw eggs at Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Sanjay Dasburma in Puri protesting large-scale irregularities in digitised ration card distribution under the National Food Security Act.
Puri district unit of Chhatra and Yuva Congress activists lobbed the eggs when the Minister was returning to his vehicle after holding a Press conference at the Circuit House over ration card distribution.
“The Minister has failed to ensure proper distribution of ration cards to eligible beneficiaries. In Puri, too cards were issued in the name of Puri Municipality Vice-Chairperson of the ruling BJD,” said a protestor.
Soon after throwing eggs, the activists fled from the spot. District SP Asish Singh rushed to the spot and ensured security for the Minister.
Notably, Sabita Patra, wife of Puri Zilla Parishad President Dibakar Patra, and ZP Vice-President Sakhimani Baral, Nimapara and Gop block chairpersons Sumitra Sahu and Sabita Swain, all are from the BJD, who figured in the ration card issue lists.
According to sources, five Councillors of BJD-ruled Puri Municipality Sabita Mishra of Ward-12, Satyabhama Sethi of Ward-31, Chakala Chiranjibi of Ward-32, Pratima Dash of Ward-5, all of the BJD, and Anju Pradhan (non-BJD) of Ward-9 were issued ration cards.