Denying allegations that Chhattisgarh had not been included in the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana, former Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh on Friday accused the Congress of spreading misinformation.
When 80 crore poor people across the country were being covered, how can the state's poor be denied the benefit of free ration, the BJP leader asked at a press conference.
Speaking over video-conferencing, Raman Singh hailed the Modi government's decision to extend the Anna Yojana till November.
“The existing Below Poverty Line (BPL) and Antyodaya ration card holders will receive the ration. No additional application is required,” he said.
Raman Singh said: “It shows how sensitive the national leadership is. (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi, in adversity, has stood like a rock, by turning the challenges into opportunities in this Covid pandemic. He has extended the free ration to 80 crore needy people for next five months. It is a step to empower the poor.”
He added: “An estimated expense of Rs 1.50 lakh crore will occur on this account. Till date, a series of pro-people decisions were taken by the Prime Minister after the lockdown began on March 25. India has enough stock of foodgrain and pulses to feed the country for the next 15 months.”
Raman Singh said that despite being in power in Chhattisgarh for nearly 20 months, the Congress was yet to give the promised unemployment allowance of Rs 2,500 every month. Instead, the Congress government has put a blanket ban on recruitment and appointments.
On the proposed appointments of Parliamentary Secretaries, he said: “Slowly the Congress, which opposed several BJP government’s decisions tooth and nail, has taken U-turn and implemented them one by one.”