New Delhi: AAP MLAs Tuesday demanded the dismissal of Delhi food and civil supplies minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa over alleged irregularities in the “procurement and distribution” of subsidised rice meant for the poor.Sirsa dismissed the charges as “blatant lies” and warned of legal action against “defamatory allegations”.Eight AAP MLAs were marshalled out of the assembly following instructions of speaker Vijender Gupta after their protests over the issue disrupted proceedings.AAP MLA Sanjeev Jha alleged that an attempt was made to carry out a “Rs 22,000-crore rice scam” under Sirsa. “Every week, 31,000 metric tonnes of rice was being taken from FCI and sold in the open market in Haryana. This amounts to a scam of approximately Rs 500 crore every week. The opposition will continue its fight for accountability and transparency on this issue, both inside the House and on the streets,” said Jha.Sirsa clarified that “neither Delhi govt bought nor sold any rice” and that “AAP is spreading blatant lies to divert attention from a scheme under which Delhi women are getting Rs 2,500 assistance from govt. Their problem is that the issue they used to raise every day has now been resolved by our govt. Their problem is poor families will now get houses. Their problem is Delhi govt is delivering on its promises. But no amount of frustration or political drama can stop govt from working for people of Delhi,” said Sirsa.AAP’s Kondli MLA Kuldeep Kumar referred to the suspension of Arun Kumar Jha, additional commissioner in food and civil supplies department, in connection with the matter and questioned why action had not been taken against Sirsa.Sirsa said a representation had been received from North Eastern Regional Agricultural Marketing Corporation (NERAMAC), a govt of India enterprise, which he had written, “may be considered positively according to rules and regulations”.Sirsa added, “The representation states that the rice adopted under the scheme won’t affect the current or future quota or allocation of rice available to Delhi govt under any scheme, and won’t impose any financial burden on Delhi govt. This is a matter between NERAMAC and FCI. Neither did any rice belonging to Delhi govt go anywhere, nor did it buy or sell rice. We have neither any financial burden, nor any quota of rice involved in this transaction.”Sirsa said if these “defamatory allegations” continue, he will take the matter to court. “There, it will be clear what was purchased, who purchased it, who sold it and where the money went,” he said.
