Photo Source: Babushahi Bureau
Punjab Govt to safeguard ration rights of poor, counters Centre’s move: Sherry Kalsi
Rohit Gupta
Gurdaspur (Punjab), August 24: Aam Aadmi Party’s Punjab state working president and Batala MLA, Aman Sher Singh Sherry Kalsi, has strongly opposed the Centre’s move to discontinue free ration for lakhs of poor families in the state.
Addressing a press conference at the local Panchayat Bhawan, Kalsi alleged that the BJP-led central government has already stopped rations for 23 lakh beneficiaries since July citing KYC issues, and has now threatened to stop rations for 32 lakh more people after September 30.
Kalsi said that out of Punjab’s 1.53 crore ration cards, 55 lakh poor Punjabis are directly affected by the Centre’s decision, which he termed as “anti-poor and anti-Punjab.”
He added that Punjab, which produces food for the entire country, is now being betrayed by the very government it feeds.
Rejecting the Centre’s criteria of excluding families with a car, 2.5 acres of land, or a family member in government service, Kalsi questioned whether such conditions automatically made a family wealthy. He accused the BJP of failing to understand the realities of rural Punjab.
“The Aam Aadmi Party government will not let the ration of any poor person be stopped,” Kalsi assured. He said that the Punjab government has already completed verification of 1.29 crore ration beneficiaries, and the remaining will be verified door-to-door within six months.
He further said, “This is not just about ration, it is a fight for respect and rights. No mother’s plate will remain empty and no child will remain hungry in Punjab.” Kalsi warned that if needed, the AAP will launch a state-wide agitation against the Centre’s decision.
The press conference was also attended by Sri Hargobindpur MLA Advocate Amarpal Singh, Dera Baba Nanak MLA Gurdeep Singh Randhawa, Punjab Health Systems Corporation Chairman Raman Bahl, along with senior district leaders of the party.