Delhi chief Arvind Kejriwal has accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of "blocking" the state government's "ration at home" scheme, which he proposed in January. The plan aimed to deliver rations to the doorsteps of seven million ration cardholders in the state.
Under this scheme, the Delhi government promised to deliver 4kg of flour and 1kg of rice to the doorstep of every beneficiary. However, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-governed federal government refused to greenlight the scheme, due to which it has been put on hold.
During a digital conference on Sunday, Kejriwal claimed that PM Modi rejected the scheme in March, allegedly because its name was associated with the Aam Aadmi Party government in Delhi.
The Delhi chief then referred to Modi, saying that after his "objections", they decided to not give any name to the scheme at all. However, their plan was rejected again.
“You (PM Modi) again stopped this important scheme saying the Delhi government has not taken the Centre's approval. Sir, in the last few months, I have written 5 letters to you to seek your approval to run this scheme. Now what kind of approval the Delhi government needs from the Centre? Delhi government didn’t require the Centre's approval for the implementation of the scheme, but it sought permission five times to avoid any dispute", he added.
"If pizza, burgers, smartphones, and clothes can be delivered at home, then why can't ration be delivered at their doorstep?" Kejriwal wondered.
The Delhi chief emphasised that the scheme should be implemented across the country in view of COVID-19, otherwise ration shops will act as super-spreaders.
"We aren't doing this for credit. We have just one aim and that is to provide ration to the poor. There should be no politics over matters meant for the country's benefit", Kejriwal said.