Mamata Banerjee Says Food Grain Distribution Anomalies Are a Legacy of the Left Front

Charges of anomalies in food grain distribution via the public distribution system were a legacy of the Left Front administration, which the Trinamul-led government had to deal with when it came to office in 2011, Mamata Banerjee said on Monday.

One crore ration cards were forged when we took office in 2011. During the Left Front's rule, rice was formerly obtained via ration cards. During a Vijaya Sammelani for her Bhowanipore Assembly constituency in Alipore on Monday, the chief minister said, "We cancelled the fake ration cards but it took us 7 to 8 years to clear the system."

Her remark became significant since the Trinamul administration has been under fire from opposition parties for the arrest of Jyoti Priya Mallick, the minister of food and supply from 2011 to 2021, by the Enforcement Directorate on suspicion of distributing food grains irregularly.

The opposition should reconsider before blaming her, the chief minister said.

"Even if someone offers me a cup of tea, I decline. As the chief minister, I get a monthly salary of Rs 1.5 lakh, which I do not withhold. As a seven-time MP, I don't even take out my pension, which is worth around Rs 1.25 lakh per month. No one gives it any thought. We are still thieves, Mamata said.

She said that in order to increase transparency in the public distribution system, her administration digitalized ration cards. She also said that the people of Jungle Mahal, Singur, and all the tribal people received additional free food grains from her administration.

"Nobody can claim that the Covid-19 epidemic caused someone to die from hunger. "No one can claim he did not receive food grains," Mamata said, attempting to refute claims of distribution anomalies during the outbreak.

The chief minister allegedly went on the attack to refute the claims of anomalies in the public distribution system since the party was in a difficult position after Mallick's apprehension, according to Trinamul sources.

"Because over 8 crore people in the state rely on the rationing system, the party may run into difficulties ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections if it does not refute the accusation right once. According to a Trinamul source, this is the reason the chief minister decided to refute the accusations personally.

Leader of the CPM Sujan Chakraborty said that Trinamul could not ignore the accusations by blaming the reign of the Left Front.

First off, during the Covid-19 epidemic, when anomalies in the distribution of food grains occurred, the Left Front was not in power. Second, why didn't she look into it if there had been anomalies when the Left Front was in office? Chakraborty questioned.

The BJP stated that the chief minister could not take credit for the revocation of more than one crore ration cards since it was the result of the Center's interference.