Delhi NCP seeks withdrawal of ration order

New Delhi, Jan 29 (UNI) The Nationalist Congress Party today sought immediate withdrawal of a Delhi government order, disallowing ration benefits for Class IV and non-gazetted employees with over Rs one lakh annual income from the PDS shops in the national capital.

Addressing a news conference here, Delhi Pradesh Nationalist Congress Party president Ramvir Singh Bidhuri also demanded an increase in the central ration quota for the national capital.

He said the order would deprive hundreds of thousands of employees from drawing ration from the PDS shops as all of them were at present getting annual salary of more than Rs one lakh.

''The order, which will come into effect from April one this year, is not in the interest of the people of Delhi. There is still time to rectify the decision.'' Mr Bidhuri questioned the jurisdiction of the Delhi government in issuing such an order.

The NCP leader said he met Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, Food and Supplies Minister Haroon Yousuf, Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee president J P Aggarwal and other officials in this regard.

He said the Delhi government should demand enhanced ration quota from the Centre as the situation in the national capital was different from other states.

''Hundreds of thousands of people come from other states and settle down in Delhi every year. The Delhi government should seek an increase in the central ration quota and make serious efforts in this regard. The central government should also give special consideration to Delhi,'' Mr Bidhuri added.

UNI AG SB HT1712