3 weeks ago
Eight AAP MLAs Marshalled Out in Rice Scam Protest
In Delhi, a big city in India, some people who help run the city were very angry.
They said that bags of rice meant for poor and hungry people were secretly given to a private company instead.
To show how upset they were, they carried big rice sacks into the building where leaders meet, called the Assembly.
They shouted a question: 'Where did the rice for the poor go?'
The person in charge of the rice, named Manjinder Singh Sirsa, said his office did not buy or sell any rice.
He said the angry leaders were telling lies and warned that he might take them to court.
Eight of the angry leaders were asked to leave the meeting room by helpers called marshals.
The other side, led by Saurabh Bharadwaj, said the rice went missing and they just wanted answers.
This fight shows that in politics, different groups often disagree loudly about what happened.
Eight AAP MLAs were marshalled out of the Delhi Assembly on the last day of the Monsoon session after protesting with rice bags over an alleged 'rice scam'.
AAP alleges subsidised rice meant for Delhi's poor and migrants was 'black-marketed' to a private company in Haryana.
Delhi AAP chief Saurabh Bharadwaj said around 31,000 metric tonnes of rice per week were sought from the Food Corporation of India (FCI).
Food and Civil Supplies Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa denied the charges, saying the government 'did not buy or sell any rice', and threatened defamation action.
Speaker Vijender Gupta condemned the protest as irresponsible, while AAP demanded Sirsa's resignation and criticised a minister's order to 'throw out' the MLAs.
- Who
- Eight Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa, Delhi AAP chief Saurabh Bharadwaj, Speaker Vijender Gupta, and Public Works Department Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh.
- What
- AAP MLAs protested with rice bags over an alleged 'rice scam', demanding Sirsa's resignation, and eight MLAs were marshalled out of the House.
- Where
- Delhi Assembly, New Delhi.
- When
- Tuesday, the last day of the Delhi Assembly's Monsoon session, which began on August 7.
- Why
- AAP alleges subsidised rice meant for Delhi's poor was 'black-marketed' to a private company in Haryana; the government denies the charge.
AAP's Allegations
BJP Government's Response
The alleged rice scam
AAP's Allegations
AAP claims Sirsa's department recommended the FCI give subsidised rice to an Assam-based corporation and that the rice, meant for Delhi's poor and migrants, was 'black-marketed' to a private company in Haryana, earning 'crores' in illegal commission.
BJP Government's Response
Sirsa denies the charge, saying the Delhi government 'did not buy or sell any rice' and that he only wrote 'maybe considered as per rules' on a company's representation, calling AAP's claims 'blatant lies'.
Conduct inside the Assembly
AAP's Allegations
AAP says its protest was legitimate questioning and objects to minister Parvesh Sahib Singh ordering marshals to 'throw out' the MLAs, calling it a breach of the Speaker's authority and of parliamentary privilege.
BJP Government's Response
Speaker Vijender Gupta called the protests 'very irresponsible behaviour' that disrupted the session for three days, and Parvesh Sahib Singh said MLA Kuldeep Kumar 'threw something towards officials'.
Motive behind the allegations
AAP's Allegations
Bharadwaj says a responsible minister should calmly answer the opposition's questions and accuses the government of intimidating AAP by threatening court action.
BJP Government's Response
Sirsa says AAP is levelling baseless allegations to divert attention from the Delhi Lakshmi Yojana, under which the government provides Rs 2,500 monthly to eligible women.
Key facts
- Protesters removed
- 8 AAP MLAs marshalled out of the Assembly
- Allegation
- Subsidised rice meant for Delhi's poor allegedly sold to a private company in Haryana
- Rice quantity
- Around 31,000 metric tonnes per week sought from the Food Corporation of India
- Minister accused
- Manjinder Singh Sirsa, Food and Civil Supplies Minister
- Government response
- Denied buying or selling rice; called allegations 'blatant lies'
- Demand
- Resignation of Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa
- Legal threat
- Sirsa threatened defamation action against AAP leaders
- Session
- Monsoon session began August 7; protest on the last day, Tuesday
Quotes
Manjinder Singh Sirsa
Delhi Food and Civil Supplies Minister
“There have been very serious allegations against Manjinder Sirsa’s department, which recommended the Food Corporation of India (FCI) to give subsidised rice to a North‑East corporation based in Assam. The subsidised rice, which was only meant to be distributed to Delhi’s poor and migrant population, was instead black‑marketed to a private company in Haryana.”
thehansindia.com
“We did not buy or sell any rice. We had a representation from a company. I only wrote ‘maybe considered as per rules’. There is no real issue left with the Opposition. I will take them to court in a defamation matter.”
theprint.in
Sources
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