Over four lakh ration cards bogus, claims Vijender

New Delhi: Leader of the Opposition in Delhi Assembly Vijender Gupta on Saturday said that there are more than four lakh bogus ration cards in the city and demanded a high level independent investigation be ordered to identify the people with bogus ration cards and punish them.

According to Mr Gupta, as per Delhi government information, the ration mafia is operating in Delhi and having failed to curb this ration mafia, the government wants to get away with its responsibility in the name of Door Step Delivery system of ration.

“Through the door step delivery system, government wants to benefit the ration mafia. The government has totally failed in the distribution of ration. That is why it wants to get away from its responsibility by making the officials responsible there for,” Mr Gupta alleged.

Referring to the figures of the food department, Mr Gupta said that there are 73 lakh people getting cheaper ration in the city and Delhi has 19.50 lakh ration cards.

“To identify bogus ration cards, these have been linked to Aadhaar Card. In January and February 2018, 15.15 lakh ration card holders got cheaper ration from fair priced ration shops,” pointed Mr Gupta.

Mr Gupta claimed that more than four lakh ration cards holders did not take ration during January and February 2018.

“As per rules, ration card holders who do not draw their ration for three months consecutively have their cards cancelled. Four lakh ration cards holders who did not draw their ration in January and February are those who do not require cheap ration. The game of the ration mafia is going on in Delhi with the collusion of government. The government has failed to curb the mafia,” Mr Gupta added.

Mr Gupta has expressed his apprehension that after implementing the Door Step Delivery System of ration, the ration which is supposed to go to the poor would reach straight to the black marketers.

The BJP leader further demanded that at the same time cheaper ration should be provided to the needy.