Sukhbir orders verification of blue cards

Just before the Parliamentary elections, the state Food and Civil Supplies department added 13.5 lakh more people to the already existing 18 lakh beneficiaries. Sources said the government issued the cards without fixing parameters to add the a family in the BPL category.

The move, however, boomeranged and many deserving families raised a hue and cry. While the government had supplied wheat to several districts, a political decision was taken not to supply it in the remaining districts.

In a recent meeting, the deputy chief minister urged the chief secretary to get the cards verified. The latter has written to deputy commissioners in all 22 districts seeking suggestions on how to go about the issue. Irregularities in these cards have been reported from Maur, Kotfatta and Myserkhana areas falling in Bathinda parliamentary constituency, represented by Harsimrat Badal, daughter-in-law of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.

Over 8,000 cards were issued ahead of elections in these areas on February 24, a few days ahead of code of conduct that came into force on March 4. About 6,000 quintal wheat was also supplied to the beneficiaries in these areas.

There were reports from all over the state that blue cards were issued without any verification. Sources said before issuing the cards, advertisements were inserted in the papers asking for applications. As the entire process was completed in a jiffy, the applicants could not be verified.

Meanwhile, CLP leader, Sunil Jakhar has demanded an inquiry into the issue and an action against officials responsible.