Says Ashu failed to resolve grievances of depot holders due to which ration from centre was not being distributed in the State
Chandigarh, May 10, 2020: The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) today demanded chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh dismiss Food and Civil Supplies minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu for failing to resolve the genuine grievances of depot holders of the State due to which food material sent by the centre for 1.4 crore people could not be distributed.
In a statement here, SAD Spokesman Charanjit Singh Brar said the criminal negligence displayed by the Food and Civil Supplies minister had already resulted in the death of two depot holders and had adversely affected the poor and needy also. He said one person had committed suicide in desperation in Ludhiana while a woman had become mentally imbalanced after failing to secure ration from a depot.
Mr Charanjit Brar said the depot holders had made it clear that they were ready to distribute the ration including wheat and pulses sent by the centre to the people by even forsaking their commission. He said the depot holders had however requested the government to provide them necessary security as well as give them insurance cover of Rs 50 lakh in case they succumbed to COVID-19 while doing their duty for the State. He said the depot holders had also requested for gloves and sanitisers at all depots.
The SAD leader said instead of resolving these issues, Mr Bharat Bhushan Ashu had not even thought it fit to meet the depot holders and listen to their grievances. He said this kind of negligence could not be tolerated when the State was in the midst of a pandemic and needed to distribute the food material to the people at the earliest. He said Mr Ashu should be dismissed at the earliest and the government should start distribution of the ration through depot holders immediately.
Mr Brar also pointed out that there was great resentment among the people over wrong cards which had been made at the instance of Congress leaders. He said the government must ensure that the central relief was given to genuine beneficiaries only.