NEW DELHI: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Sunday launched a state-wide offensive against the alleged removal of names from Punjab’s free ration list.
Ministers and MLAs of the ruling party held press conferences across all districts, accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the central government of conspiring to deprive 55 lakh Punjabis of free ration benefits.
Addressing the media, AAP leaders said the BJP was adopting “new tactics” to trouble Punjab after “stealing votes.”
“After vote theft, BJP’s new tactic is ration theft. We will not let this conspiracy succeed,” they declared, asserting that not a single ration card would be cancelled under the AAP government.
Senior leaders including AAP Punjab President and Cabinet Minister Aman Arora, Finance Minister Harpal Cheema, Transport Minister Laljit Bhullar, Power Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO, Health Minister Dr. Balbir Singh, Social Security Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur, and several MLAs joined the coordinated media outreach from district headquarters.
‘KYC an Excuse to Harass Punjabis’
The AAP alleged that in July, the Centre had withheld ration supplies for 23 lakh people under the pretext of mandatory KYC verification. Now, it was threatening to cancel ration for another 32 lakh beneficiaries from September 30. “This is sheer injustice. Punjab has always fed the nation, yet today its poor are being punished with arbitrary cancellations,” leaders said.
Calling the Centre’s move “anti-poor and anti-Punjab,” AAP leaders said free ration was a crucial lifeline for marginalized sections. “The Centre boasts of giving ration to 80 crore Indians, but in Punjab, it plans to deny benefits to 55 lakh people. Why this discrimination? Why this hatred for Punjabis?” one leader asked.
AAP leaders reminded the Centre of Punjab’s contribution to making India self-reliant in food production. “Before the Green Revolution, India had to depend on America for food. Punjab changed that reality by filling the country’s reserves with wheat and rice. Today, the same Punjab is being deprived of ration—it is shameful and condemnable,” they said.
Accusations of Data Collection by BJP
The AAP also raised alarm over BJP leaders allegedly collecting people’s personal data under the guise of government schemes. Calling it an illegal activity, the party demanded an immediate halt to such programs.
“First, BJP tried manipulating voter lists. Now, it is targeting ration cards by collecting personal data. The people of Punjab must question BJP leaders directly: Why are they removing lakhs of names from the ration list? If they have no answer, boycott them,” AAP leaders urged.
AAP’s Assurance to Punjab
Reassuring beneficiaries, the ruling party reiterated its commitment to safeguard ration entitlements. “The AAP government will not allow even a single Punjabi to be deprived. Free ration is the right of the poor, and we will protect it at all costs,” they concluded.
