Fair price shop dealers continue protests against govt inaction

  • | Wednesday | 12th September, 2018

"In Allahabad alone, 33 kotedars (fair price shop owners) have been booked under Section 3/7 of the Essential Commodities Act by name. This, even as ADM civil supplies first assured us that no case would be registered against us but then next day an FIR was lodged against us," said Shiv Varan Singh, president, Fair Price Shop Owners Association. "The protests, agitations and sit-ins would continue unless government discloses the names of corrupt government officials from their own department," he added.Several FIRs across the state were registered. TOI had on Monday reported that most of the fair price shop owners across UP have now approached the Allahabad high court with criminal writ petitions and PILs stating that government officials only have access to alter the Aadhaar or ration records. While 319 have been booked under the I-T Act.

ALLAHABAD/LUCKNOW: The controversy over scam involving Aadhaar-based transactions for withdrawal of ration where more than 2.2 lakh tonne of foodgrains have been pilfered by impostors in Uttar Pradesh has now brought fair price shop dealers and government on a war path.TOI had reported on August 25 that an alert and detailed note shared on August 21 with districts, the UP government had issued a directive and warning that Aadhaar details of genuine BPL (below poverty line) beneficiaries were being replaced on PDS software in 43 districts, leading to 1.83 lakh illegal transactions on e-POS machines using biometrics.The dealers, who have launched a statewide agitation since September 5, continued with sit-in in various parts of UP while objecting to the FIR registered by the UP government in 43 districts.The shop owners are alleging that the government is refusing to book its food department officials, including area food inspectors and operators, who solely have access to the software that contains a list of PDS ration beneficiaries as well as Aadhaar numbers. TOI had on Monday reported that most of the fair price shop owners across UP have now approached the Allahabad high court with criminal writ petitions and PILs stating that government officials only have access to alter the Aadhaar or ration records."In Allahabad alone, 33 kotedars (fair price shop owners) have been booked under Section 3/7 of the Essential Commodities Act by name. While 319 have been booked under the I-T Act. This, even as ADM civil supplies first assured us that no case would be registered against us but then next day an FIR was lodged against us," said Shiv Varan Singh, president, Fair Price Shop Owners Association. "The protests, agitations and sit-ins would continue unless government discloses the names of corrupt government officials from their own department," he added.Several FIRs across the state were registered.

If You Like This Story, Support NYOOOZ

NYOOOZ SUPPORTER

NYOOOZ FRIEND

Your support to NYOOOZ will help us to continue create and publish news for and from smaller cities, which also need equal voice as much as citizens living in bigger cities have through mainstream media organizations.


Stay updated with all the Allahabad Latest News headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.

Related Articles