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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Ready to help, PM Modi tells Myanmar's Senior General as his country recovers from earthquake
Bangkok (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday told Myanmar's Senior General Min Aung Hlaing that India was doing everything possible to assist the nation in recovering from the aftermath of a massive earthquake that killed several thousands.
Modi met Senior General Min, the head of Myanmar's military government, on the sidelines of the Summit meeting of the leaders of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral and Technical Cooperation (BIMSTEC) grouping.
"Met Senior General Min Aung Hlaing of Myanmar on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok. Once again expressed condolences on the loss of lives and damage to property in the wake of the recent earthquake. India is doing whatever is possible to assist our sisters and brothers of Myanmar in this critical time," Modi wrote on X.
This was the Prime Minister’s first interaction with Senior General Min, who came to power in a military coup in February 2021.
"We also discussed bilateral relations between India and Myanmar, particularly in sectors like connectivity, capacity building, infrastructure development and more," he said.
India has launched Operation Brahma to help relief efforts in the earthquake-hit Myanmar, where a military coup in February 2021 brought Senior General Min to power.
During the 35-minute meeting, the Myanmarese ruler appreciated the speed at which India sent in assistance immediately after the March 28 earthquake.
“We are ready to help,” the Prime Minister is learnt to have conveyed to Senior General Min.
India has deployed military field hospitals in Mandalay, which was near the epicentre of the earthquake.
A senior official of the Myanmar administration also visited the hospital set up by India in Mandalay.
India has also deployed its National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel who are assisting in the relief work in Myanmar.
Over 3,000 people have died in the Myanmar earthquake, nearly 5,000 have been injured, and over 370 remain missing nationwide.
