Cancellation of 2.93 lakh ration cards intentional defiance: Kejriwal
New Delhi, Aug 20 : Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday took strong exception to the cancellation of around 2.93 lakh ration cards despite objections by Food and Supplies Minister Imran Hussain and said it was "deliberate and intentional act of defiance" by officials.
Kejriwal said that the decision by Food Commissioner Mohanjit Singh without valid and justified reason also appeared to be a conspiracy to deny ration to the poor.
"...is a clear, deliberate and intentional violation at the behest of the central government," he said.
Kejriwal claimed that the officer did not provide any details of ration card holders and beneficiaries whose names were intended to be deleted despite Hussain repeatedly asking for the same.
"Instead officers are proceeding with cancellation of ration cards in utter defiance of the Minister's repeated directions," the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo said.
The Chief Minister's Office said that the step will have an adverse impact on the beneficiaries.
"The department officers failed to appreciate the adverse social impact of cancelling 2.93 lakh ration cards covering more than 10 lakh beneficiaries. All such families and members would be rendered hungry because of the insensitive, apathetic, hostile, inhuman attitude of the officers," it said, referring to the death of three minors in Mandawali due to non-availability of food.
The statement said that the Food Commissioner would be "solely responsible" for any incident caused due to non-availability of food.
Kejriwal's office claimed that cancellation was undertaken without door-to-door survey of households. It warned officers concerned of disciplinary action "as such acts of commission or omission make the decisions of public servants suspicious".
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Three more arrested in connection with murder of Suhas Shetty in Mangaluru
Mangaluru (Karnataka), May 14 (PTI): The Mangaluru City Crime Branch has arrested three men in connection with the murder of Hindutva activist Suhas Shetty, officials said on Wednesday.
The accused, identified as Azaruddin alias Azar alias Ajju (29), Abdul Khader alias Noufal (24) and Vamanjoor Noushad alias Chotte Noushad (39), were arrested during the last two days, they said.
With the fresh arrests, a total of 11 people have been arrested in connection with the murder so far, police said.
According to a police statement, Azaruddin had previously been booked in three theft cases registered at Panambur, Suratkal, and Mulki police stations. He allegedly provided information about Shetty's movements to the other accused, aiding in the murder.
Khader is said to have assisted the accused during their escape in a car after the murder was committed.
Noushad is accused of having conspired with the others and directly participated in the crime. He has six previous criminal cases, including murder, attempted murder, and robbery conspiracy, registered at various police stations in Dakshina Kannada, police said.
Azaruddin has been remanded in judicial custody, while Khader and Noushad have been taken into police custody for seven days for further investigation.
Police said the investigation is ongoing and efforts are underway to trace other accused involved in the case.
Shetty, a known rowdy sheeter and Hindutva activist, was murdered by a group on May 1 within the Bajpe police station limits in Mangaluru City.
