8 AAP MLAs Marshalled Out of Delhi Assembly Over Rice Scam Allegations
Eight Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs were marshalled out of the Delhi Assembly in New Delhi on Tuesday following instructions issued by Speaker Vijender Gupta, after chaotic protests over alleged irregularities in the procurement and distribution of subsidised rice disrupted legislative proceedings.
The disruption broke out when AAP lawmakers raised heavy protests inside the House, demanding the immediate dismissal of Delhi Food and Civil Supplies Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa. The opposition members alleged major corruption in the handling of subsidised rice meant for the poor residents of the capital.
Raising the allegations during the proceedings, AAP MLA Sanjeev Jha claimed that an attempt was made to execute a Rs 22,000-crore rice scam under Sirsa's watch. Jha asserted that every week, 31,000 metric tonnes of rice were being taken from the Food Corporation of India (FCI) and sold off in the open market in Haryana.
According to Jha, this alleged illegal diversion amounted to a scam of approximately Rs 500 crore every week. Speaking on behalf of the opposition, Jha emphasised that AAP would maintain its campaign for public accountability and operational transparency, committing to fight the issue both inside the Assembly and on the streets.
Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa rejected all charges made against him and his department, dismissing the opposition's claims as blatant lies. He warned that he would pursue legal action against those levelling defamatory allegations. Setting out the position of his administration, Sirsa clarified that the Delhi government neither bought nor sold any rice.
Sirsa argued that AAP was intentionally spreading blatant lies to divert public attention away from welfare measures implemented by the administration, specifically pointing to a scheme under which women in Delhi receive Rs 2,500 in financial assistance from the government. He added that the opposition's main issue was that a topic they used to raise daily had now been successfully resolved by the government.
