Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira questions extra expenditure of Rs 670 crore by AAP government on flour distribution

JALANDHAR: Questioning decision of the AAP government to distribute flour in place of wheat grains at extra cost of Rs 670 crore to the state exchequer, Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira has said that it’s wasteful expenditure at a time when state is already reeling under debt of Rs 3 lakh crore.
In a statement issued here on Wednesday Khaira also said that Bhagwant Mann government took this decision when there was no demand for it and this would also adversely impact the small flour mill (chakki) owners who also would earn some money by grinding the wheat grains.
He said he suspected that this scheme was introduced in Punjab on the direction of AAP national convener and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal to benefit his own associates, who might be given contract for the distribution of ration.
“These few select distributors would not only indulge in large scale corruption but would also benefit the AAP leaders to keep them in good humor. Moreover there are over 19, 000 ration depot holders in Punjab who are already up in arms against the AAP government as they fear the distribution of ration at the door step would simply make them jobless. This will also affect the livelihood of small flour mills (Chakkis) situated virtually in every village of Punjab, as they grind the wheat distributed to these beneficiaries and earn a living. This erroneous and corrupt move of the AAP will definitely affect their earnings,” Khaira said.
Khaira also stated that the consumers got their wheat grinded as fresh flour as per their need which had much better nutrition value, whereas now God knows under what circumstances the wheat would be grinded into flour at such a huge level in the state and whether it would be worth eating or not, as flour could not be stored very long.