The Centre on Friday banned the Delhi government’s “doorstep delivery of ration” scheme, which was going to start from 25 March. The step has caused a major setback for Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal’s government and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). This also comes in the midst of a war with the Centre over the powers of the Delhi government. On this issue, The Sunday Guardian had a conversation with AAP MLA and chief spokesperson Saurabh Bhardwaj.
Q: The Central government has banned the ‹doorstep delivery of ration› scheme. What happened?
A: It is very sad and serious that the door-to-door ration scheme which was brought out by the Delhi government was ordered to stop. As part of the scheme, poor people would not have had to get food from the ration shops standing in lines. With respect, the government would go to their houses and distribute ration. The scheme was discussed many times and Central Government officials were involved in that discussion. They were fully aware of this thing. It has been a whole month since the scheme was notified. On 25 March, the Chief Minister of Delhi himself was about to launch this scheme in 100 homes in Seemapuri. But a letter came from the Central Government six days ago, stating that we should stop this scheme because the Central Government has ordered it.
Q: Why has it been ordered by the Central government?
A: It is very sad that the Central Government is saying, ‘This is our scheme. Therefore, under our scheme you cannot make any changes.’ So the corruption that is going on should go on. The brokerage that is going on continues. It is a brokerage run by the Central Government and you cannot manipulate it. You cannot make any improvements. It is very sad that the Central Government, which got votes to work for the benefit of the poor, is doing things against the poor and harassing the poor.
Q: But when there is a Central plan, why do you want to run this scheme in the name of the Chief Minister? After all, what is its purpose?
A: This is not a problem of this being a plan of the Central Government. It is obvious that this is the plan of the entire country. Now, it is the plan of who’s at the Centre. Before that, when the Congress was at the Centre, it was their plan. But no one has their own property here – it is the property of the whole country. Each state benefits its people by modifying the plan of the Centre in its own way. So to say that you cannot make any change in the plan of the Centre is wrong.
When the state government is packing rations at its own expense and getting it delivered, what is the problem of the Centre here?
Q: How much loss has the Kejriwal government suffered? What is the option now? Will it start again?
A: This is a loss of public money. I think the officers of Delhi will read the letter sent by the Centre and reply to it. It is our request to God to give wisdom to the Central government, so that by 25 March, by revisiting it again, we can end the ban.