In a strong statement, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has accused the central government of conspiring to stop the supply of free ration to 55 lakh people of the state. The Chief Minister’s remarks come amid growing tension between the state and the Centre over food distribution schemes that help the economically weaker sections.
Mann’s open letter to the people of Punjab
In an open letter to the people of Punjab, Chief Minister Mann alleged that the Centre was deliberately discriminating against the state. “After manipulating the votes of people associated with other political parties, now they want to snatch away your ration. I will not let the BJP do this,” he said.
According to Mann, Punjab currently provides ration to 1.53 crore people, but the recent order of the central government threatens to end this facility for 55 lakh beneficiaries. He warned that if the move was implemented, nearly one in three poor families in Punjab would stop getting essential rations.
He called the Centre’s decision more than just a policy change and called it a direct attack on the poor, farmers, labourers and ordinary families who depend on government aid for their daily needs.
Union minister Joshi’s response
Union Minister Rajnath Joshi responded to Mann’s allegations, calling them false and baseless. He stressed that many poor families in Punjab are still left out of the ration scheme due to lack of proper documents or ration cards.
“The Punjab government can fix the system and include genuine beneficiaries, but it is refusing to do so,” Joshi said. He suggested that this was the real reason why some families were being deprived of free rations and not any deliberate move by the Centre to stop supplies.
What it means for Punjab residents
If the alleged suspension of free rations affects 55 lakh people, it could have a significant socio-economic impact on the state. Many families rely on government ration schemes for basic necessities such as wheat, rice and essential groceries. The sudden shutdown of the programme could put economic pressure on daily wage labourers, small farmers and low-income families.
The controversy has reignited debate on Centre-state relations and the role of politics in welfare schemes. While the Punjab chief minister accuses the BJP-led central government of targeting the poor, the central government insists that the state administration must streamline its system so that the benefits reach the real beneficiaries.
The key point
The ongoing dispute between Punjab and the Centre underlines the importance of a transparent food distribution system. Though political allegations and counter-allegations continue to make headlines, the real concern is to ensure that vulnerable populations get the support they need. As the situation evolves, Punjab residents and policymakers will be keeping a close eye on whether ration supplies continue uninterrupted to all eligible households.