Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann alleged on Saturday, August 23rd, that the central government, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), is planning to remove the names of over eight lakh ration cardholders in the state under the National Food Security Act (NFSA). Mann stated his government would not allow this to happen, also questioning the criteria used by the central government for removing beneficiaries’ names. Speaking to reporters, CM Mann said his government recently received a report from the center indicating that 8,02,493 ration cardholders in Punjab should be removed because they no longer qualify. Mann estimated this would affect at least 32 lakh people in the state, considering an average of four members per family. He questioned the criteria, pointing out that those with four-wheeled vehicles or over 2.50 acres of land are being excluded. He added that the government will not allow the cancellation of even a single ration card, mentioning that there are a total of 1.53 crore beneficiaries under NFSA in Punjab, who receive wheat. Mann said he has written to the center, requesting six months to verify beneficiaries.
