Pre-Election 'PM Modi Logos' on PDS Grain Bags to Cost Crores: Report
New Delhi: The Food Corporation of India (FCI) has instructed its regional offices to float tenders for bags laminated with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “logo” for distributing food grains under the public distribution system (PDS), as reported by The Hindu.
The initiative falls under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKY), which aims to provide free foodgrains to approximately 81.35 crore beneficiaries of the Antyodaya Anna Yojana and Priority Households scheme.
This move, which is seen as a pre-election strategy, comes ahead of the Lok Sabha elections expected to be held by May this year.
According to a Right to Information reply obtained by activist Ajay Bose, Rajasthan has ordered synthetic bags worth Rs 13.29 crores. The state's supply order is for 1.07 crore synthetic bags at a cost of Rs 12.375 per bag.
While Rajasthan has awarded the tender for the bags to five companies, Nagaland has awarded the contract to one company at Rs 9.30 per bag.
An official from the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution mentioned that such branding has begun in 2024, "ahead of the election."
Tamil Nadu has floated a tender for the supply of 1.14 crore bags, while Maharashtra is yet to finalise its tendering process.
Earlier this month, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan rejected the Union government’s directive to install selfie points featuring cutouts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at big ration shops under the PMGKY.
Previously, the Modi government withheld funds to West Bengal for refusing to print the prime minister’s photographs on bags used to distribute ration. In 2021, the inclusion of the prime minister’s photo on India’s COVID-19 vaccination certificates had caused a global stir.
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National Herald Case: Delhi court refuses to take cognisance of ED chargesheet against Gandhis
New Delhi (PTI): A court here on Tuesday refused to take cognisance of the Enforcement Directorate's money laundering charge against Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, and five others in the National Herald case.
The ED said it would file an appeal against the court order.
Special Judge Vishal Gogne noted the chargesheet filed in the case is based on an investigation into a complaint by a private person and not on an FIR of a predicate offence. Its cognisance is impermissible in law, the judge said.
Reading out the operative part from the order, the judge said the Delhi Police's Economic Offences Wing has already lodged an FIR in the case, and hence it will be premature to adjudicate on ED's arguments in the case based on merits.
The ED has accused Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, as well as late party leaders Motilal Vora and Oscar Fernandes, along with Suman Dubey, Sam Pitroda, and a private company, Young Indian, of conspiracy and money laundering.
It has been alleged that they acquired properties worth approximately Rs 2,000 crore belonging to Associated Journals Limited (AJL), which publishes the National Herald newspaper.
The investigation agency further alleged that the Gandhis held the majority 76 per cent shares in Young Indian, which "fraudulently" usurped the assets of AJL in exchange for a Rs 90 crore loan.
