Delhi LG Killing Ration Delivery Scheme for the Poor: AAP

Delhi’s Aam Aadmi Party said that LG is obstructing Delhi Government’s decision of delivering household items at consumers homes.

By Rakesh Raman

As Delhi Government – headed by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and chief minister Arvind Kejriwal – and the Lieutenant Governor’s (LG) office have been at daggers drawn, AAP has once again accused LG Anil Baijal of filibustering.

AAP said Wednesday that Baijal is obstructing Delhi Government’s decision of delivering household items at consumers homes. It also said that the LG has stopped the use of e-POS machines in ration shops.

“The elected government of Delhi expresses its deep disappointment over LG’s decision of not concurring with the cabinet decisions of providing doorstep delivery of ration and suspending the operation of e-POS machines,” AAP said in its statement.

[ Also Read: Kejriwal Must Tender an Apology to People of Delhi and Resign ]

The party added that the LG has advised to send the doorstep delivery proposal to the Centre without citing any relevant rule/law.

“The Delhi Government, however, is of the clear view that no reference to Centre is required according to the law and this move of LG amounts to killing this landmark scheme for the poor,” AAP stated.

Earlier, Baijal had retorted to Kejriwal government’s public displeasure over LG’s decision on door-to-door citizen services. Manish Sisodia – an AAP leader and minister in Kejriwal’s Delhi Government – had alleged that Baijal is trying to protect the corrupt bureaucratic system in Delhi.

[ Delhi LG Protecting Corrupt System: Says Minister Manish Sisodia ]

Sisodia was referring to his government’s proposal of providing 40 citizen services such as birth certificates, licences, and various registrations at people’s homes. He said that the proposal has been turned down by Baijal.

But Baijal said Kejriwal and his colleagues have been misleading the people of Delhi by spreading false information.

AAP added that LG’s objections will only increase the hardships of weaker sections of the society for whom the benefits of Targeted Public Distribution System (PDS) are a source of lifeline.

“There are deep vested interests who have always tried to scuttle any systemic reforms in PDS,” AAP said, adding that there is a collusion between vested interests and certain sections of bureaucracy who do not wish that any reform in PDS should take place.

“The elected government is of the view that it is a matter of real sadness that the LG has completely ignored the comments of ministers and relied on completely ridiculous and irrelevant objections made by some bureaucrats to stall the project,” AAP said.

By Rakesh Raman, who is a national award-winning journalist and social activist. He is the founder of a humanitarian organization RMN Foundation which is working in diverse areas to help the disadvantaged and distressed people in the society.

Photo courtesy: LG office