Criticising the BJD government in Odisha for alleged irregularities in distribution of ration cards under National Food Security Act (NFSA), BJP today demanded cancellation of the beneficiary list and sought fresh survey to prepare a list of genuine persons.
"Large-scale irregularities have been detected in preparation of the list of beneficiaries under NFSA in Odisha. Therefore, the entire list should be scrapped and a new list of genuine people prepared," BJP's new Odisha unit President Basanta Kumar Panda told reporters here.
BJP would organise mass protests across the state till all eligible persons are given ration cards under NFSA, he said, adding that distribution of the cards should be done in a proper manner.
Terming as an "eye wash" the ouster of Cuttack Mayor over irregularities related to her ration card, Panda alleged that a large number of BJD leaders including ministers are involved in the scam and BJP would launch a movement across the state to expose the misdeeds of the Naveen Patnaik government.
Slamming the state government for causing undue delay in implementation of NFSA, Panda said it is unfortunate that a large number of genuine persons have been left out while BJD leaders and supporters have illegally got the ration cards issued in their names in a fraudulent manner in gross violation of the norms.
In most of the cases no action has been taken against the offenders, he said and demanded that those involved in such fraud should be arrested forthwith.
Ridiculing BJD government's claim on the Rs 1 per kg rice scheme, the state BJP chief said the Naveen Patnaik regime should tell people about the central government's contribution to it.
While the Centre contributes about Rs 27 of the total subsidy under the scheme, the state government provides a meagre Rs 2, he claimed.
"The BJD regime is taking undue credit by claiming that it as its own scheme. The ruling party is misleading people to grab votes," said Panda, who also released a poster/leaflet highlighting the contribution made by the Centre towards rice subsidy.
A state BJP general secretary said that a screening
process was recently started to induct hundreds of wholetimers for the party.
According to party sources, the district leaderships have been instructed to keep aside their differences and work as a single unit to strengthen the party organisation.
"The district leadership has also been asked to take regular feedback from the RSS in the districts, which will help us more to work and reach out to the grass roots level," a BJP leader said.
State BJP president Dilip Ghosh hoped that the measures being adopted by the state unit would help the party emerge as the main political opponent of the ruling party force in the state.
"In terms of force, we are the main opposition in Bengal. We may have a small number in the Assembly, but we are a major force. Both the Congress and the CPI(M) are playing second fiddle of the TMC," Ghosh said.
According to party sources, the state unit has also decided to use the experience of 300 BJP workers from Bengal, who were sent to UP ahead of elections to pick up new startegies and campiagn techqnies which may give an edge to the party in the back-to-back elections in Bengal - 2018 Panchayat polls, 2019 Lok Sabha polls, 2020 municipal polls and 2021 Assembly polls.
Riding on Modi wave, the BJP had made impressive gains in Bengal in 2014 when it secured 17 per cent of popular votes. But in the absence of good leadership and organizational efficiency and due to severe infighting, the party lost its momentum by the beginning of 2015 only to bounce back in the 2016 Assembly polls by bagging three seats and 11 per cent vote share.
