Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia today claimed the Delhi government has found "open theft" in delivery of ration in the city and demanded suspension of food and supplies commissioner.
Sisodia also demanded Lt Governor Anil Baijal okays the AAP government's ambitious scheme for doorstep delivery of ration and stop the existing e-PoS (Electronic Point of Sale) system, under which beneficiaries are given ration through biometric identification.
According to the deputy chief minister, the e-POS system, which was implemented in the city from January 1, is allegedly leading to "open theft" in the distribution of ration.
Addressing a press conference here, Sisodia said preliminary enquiry into a sample of data indicates the provision of OTP has been "misused" and that ration has been "siphoned off" during the month of March on a number of cards which appear to be "fake"
The One Time Password (OTP) provision is used to give ration in case the biometric identification of beneficiary fails under the e-POS system. In such cases, an OTP is sent on the mobile number of the beneficiary available with the food and civil supplies department.
Sisodia said the OTP provision was introduced in Delhi on March 1 to beat internet connectivity issues at ration shops.
"On one particular mobile number, 499 card-holders were given ration. Based on OTPs sent on 11 mobile numbers, ration of around 1,550 households were distributed, which indicates open theft of ration," Sisodia alleged.
He also said that Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Food & Civil Supplies Minister Imran Hussain have written to the L-G flagging this "open theft" in the delivery of ration under e-POS system and demanded suspension of the food & supplies commissioner.
"The Lt Governor should immediately scrap the e-POS system and suspend the food commissioner. If there is no suspension of the food & supplies commissioner, fair probe into the matter is not possible," the deputy chief minister said here.
Sisodia asked why the Lt Governor is not suspending the officer despite the chief minister's request on several occasions.
During the budget session of the Delhi Assembly, which concluded earlier this week, Kejriwal had also demanded the removal of food and supplies commissioner while flagging "discrepancies" in the distribution of ration.
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