No direction from EC to stop Atta-Dal scheme

Amaninder Pal

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 9

Contrary to the allegations levelled by the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) that the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had “influenced” the Election Commission to discontinue the Atta-Dal scheme, it has emerged that the EC hasn’t given any such direction so far.

The department of Food and Civil Supplies itself put the brakes on the scheme and has now sought clarification from the EC as to whether the scheme can be continued in view of the code of conduct.

Now, treading cautiously after the SAD’s core committee passed a resolution against the Congress and AAP on the matter on Saturday, the state Chief Electoral Officer today forwarded the query to Delhi-based ECI headquarters to seek opinion of top bosses.

“No direction has been issued so far to discontinue the scheme. The department concerned has sought a clarification as to whether the scheme can be run now. We have forwarded the case to the ECI,” said VK Singh, Chief Electoral Officer, Punjab.

Sources said the Department of Food and Civil Supplies had conveyed to the EC that quota of wheat that was under distribution was meant from October 16 to March 17 and its distribution didn’t violate provisions of the model code of conduct.

The department also claimed that around 81 per cent of stock had been distributed among beneficiaries and permission should be granted for the distribution of the remaining stock.