New Delhi: The Aam Aadmi Party on Sunday levelled serious allegations over the distribution of subsidised rice in Delhi, with party leader Saurabh Bharadwaj claiming a large-scale diversion of rations intended for the city's most vulnerable residents.
Allegation and claimed scale
Bharadwaj told ANI that rice allocated for migrant workers, homeless people and daily-wage labourers in Delhi was allegedly channelled away and sold to private entities, in an arrangement he said involved a corporation based in Assam. He alleged the scheme deprived eligible beneficiaries of rations meant to be supplied for three years.
“The Delhi government, in collaboration with a corporation in Assam, made a complete plan to deprive the poorest of the poor in Delhi of rice rations that were to be provided to them for three years,” Bharadwaj said, according to ANI.
He put the value of the diverted rice at about ₹22,000 crore, and said commissions and brokerage in the arrangement totalled roughly ₹11,000 crore. Bharadwaj also claimed a vigilance agency in the Central government had identified discrepancies in the transactions.
How the alleged deal worked, according to AAP
- Rice was reportedly to be procured from the Food Corporation of India (FCI) at subsidised rates by an Assam-based corporation.
- That entity, Bharadwaj alleged, was to distribute the rice among needy people in Delhi.
- Instead, he claimed, thousands of tonnes were sold to a private company in Haryana at a higher price—he cited a specific example of rice purchased at about ₹23 per kg being sold at ₹46 per kg.
Response and political fallout
In reaction to the charges, Delhi Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa issued a 24-hour ultimatum to AAP leaders Saurabh Bharadwaj and Sanjeev Jha to retract the allegations and issue a public apology, warning of legal action should they fail to comply. The minister's statement, reported alongside Bharadwaj's allegations, signals an escalation between the parties.
No official response from the Delhi government body responsible for ration distribution or from the Assam corporation named by Bharadwaj was reported in the original account. The AAP leader also called for a full inquiry and action against those he said were responsible.
Figures summarised
| Item | Alleged amount |
|---|---|
| Value of diverted rice | ₹22,000 crore |
| Commissions/brokerage | ₹11,000 crore |
| Example price claimed | Bought at ₹23/kg, sold at ₹46/kg |
Context and implications
If proven, the alleged diversion would affect public distribution meant to protect food security among the city's poorest groups. Delhi's subsidised ration programme forms a safety net for millions of low-income residents, including migrant and informal workers. Claims that consignments meant for these groups were rerouted to private buyers raise concerns about both administrative oversight and accountability in the procurement chain.
Bharadwaj urged a detailed probe into procurement and distribution processes, and sought transparency on the roles of officials he said were involved. He suggested that the arrangement resulted in a loss to the public exchequer and denied beneficiaries their entitled supply.
What comes next
The immediate next steps are likely to be a political exchange over evidence and demands for investigation. AAP has called for an inquiry, while the minister's ultimatum indicates the accused parties may respond legally or politically. Independent verification—through government audit, departmental enquiries, or vigilance findings—will be necessary to substantiate the specific financial figures and allegations of diversion.
For residents dependent on subsidised rations, clarity on supply chains and assurance of uninterrupted distribution will be a key practical outcome of any inquiry. Authorities overseeing the PDS and FCI-linked procurement would be the bodies expected to comment or initiate checks.
Reporting from the capital; further developments will follow as parties respond and any formal probes are launched.
