'If home delivery of pizza, smartphone possible...': spar over doorstep ration scheme

New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday accused the Centre of halting the "revolutionary" doorstep delivery of ration scheme, saying that the Delhi government took approval for it five times.

"Just two days before the implementation of the doorstep delivery of ration scheme in Delhi, the Central government stopped it. They claim we didn't take approval. We took approval from the Centre not just once, but five times. Legally, we don't need Centre's approval for launching such a scheme but we did so out of courtesy," the Chief Minister said at a virtual press briefing.

The Chief Minister also said that the ration delivery scheme should be implemented across India otherwise ration shops will act as superspreaders.

"Our government had completed the preparatory work for the implementation of the scheme. The Centre has stalled this revolutionary scheme suddenly. Why it has been stopped? The nation wants to know," he asked.

Kejriwal appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to not stall the scheme, saying that "politics over matters meant for the country's benefit" should be avoided.

"I request you (PM Modi) with folded hands on behalf of Delhi's 70 lakh poor people, please don't stop



this scheme (Doorstep Delivery of Ration). It is in the interest of the nation. We need to be united amid the COVID-19 crisis," he added.

He further asked if home delivery of pizza, burgers, smartphones, and apparel is possible then why can't ration be delivered at the doorstep of poor people.

AAP VS Centre over ration scheme

On Saturday, the Chief Minister's Office (CMO), in a statement, claimed the lieutenant governor returned the file on June 2 stating the scheme cannot be implemented.

The Central government, however, refuted the allegation as "baseless" and claimed the lieutenant governor has not rejected the proposal as was being "portrayed" by the Delhi government, sources privy to the development told PTI.

The Delhi government was all set to launch the doorstep delivery of ration scheme within one to two days, benefiting 72 lakh poor beneficiaries, said the CMO statement.

Earlier, the name of the scheme -- 'Mukhyamantri Ghar Ghar Ration Yojana' -- was dropped by the Delhi government after the Centre's objection.

Under the scheme, every beneficiary was entitled to receive 4 kg of flour and one kg of rice cleaned and packed at their doorstep.