PM’s brother seeks CBI probe into Food Security Act implementation

VARANASI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s brother Prahlad Bhai Damodardas Modi on Tuesday charged the UP government with corruption in implementing Food Security Act and demanded CBI probe into the entire matter.

Being the senior vice-president of All India Fair Price Shop Dealers Federation and president of Kerosene License Holders Association Gujarat Fair Fair Price Shop Dealers Association, Modi was in Varanasi to raise the voice of local dealers.

Talking to reporters on Tuesday, he said that the UP government is not acting as per the order of the Central government passed under Food Security Act, 2013. “It is our demand that the UP government follows the Central government’s order and give due rights to the fair price shop holders,” he said adding that the commission of dealers should be enhanced.

He alleged that there are large-scale irregularities in door-step delivery. There is a prescribed norm to give additional Rs. 17 per quintal to the dealer on every coupon generated through bio-metric system. But, the UP government did not give a single paise to them. The entire amount, which is the right of dealers, was grabbed by corrupt officials. The matter should be investigated by the CBI, he said adding that he came to Varanasi on the request of dealers to raise their voice from his holy land.

When asked about the corruption charges in Rafael deal levelled by Congress against the Central government, he said, “I am a ration dealer, and I don’t know all these things. Only thing I can say that my brother is honest”

Asked whether the government should bring an ordinance for construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya, he said, “It is government’s business what to do or what not to do. But, being a Hindu I wish to see construction of Ram temple.”