New Delhi, 13 August (H.S.): The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Thursday accused the Delhi government of involvement in an alleged multi-crore-rupee rice scam and demanded the resignation of Food Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa, holding him responsible for the alleged irregularities.

Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters, AAP Delhi unit president Saurabh Bharadwaj alleged that an organisation had written to the Food Minister seeking rice for poor people deprived of ration cards, migrant workers and daily-wage labourers in Delhi. He said the organisation had sought the Delhi government's necessary approval and permission to procure rice from the Food Corporation of India (FCI) under the Open Market Sale Scheme (OMSS).

Bharadwaj claimed that Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa forwarded the letter to the department's Special Commissioner, asking officials to consider the request favourably in accordance with the rules. Subsequently, departmental officials allegedly wrote to the FCI by email, stating that the department had no objection to supplying rice to the organisation concerned.

The AAP Delhi chief alleged that around 31,000 metric tonnes of rice were subsequently made available to the organisation, which later sought an additional quantity. He said the second request was also forwarded by the minister to departmental officials, following which further correspondence was allegedly undertaken with the FCI for the release of rice.

Bharadwaj questioned why action was being taken against and suspension ordered for an official involved in the matter, while no action had been initiated against the minister who, he alleged, had issued the instructions cited by the official.

He also questioned how the 31,000 metric tonnes of rice, equivalent to approximately 31 million kilograms, procured purportedly for distribution among Delhi's poor, was distributed and where it was supplied. He demanded a detailed investigation into the entire distribution process.

Bharadwaj said the AAP would file a formal complaint with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) in connection with the matter. He alleged that rice obtained from the FCI in the name of poor beneficiaries was allegedly intended to be sold to a private company in Haryana at a higher price, with an attempt to earn commissions.

The AAP leader also targeted the Delhi government over other alleged irregularities, referring to an alleged Rs 650-crore health scam and allegations related to the purchase of bicycles. He questioned the government's accountability and said that if an official had stated that he acted on the minister's instructions, the minister's role should also be investigated.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar