Sirsa Demands Apology From AAP Over Subsidised Rice Allegations
Delhi Food and Supplies Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa on Sunday demanded a public apology from Aam Aadmi Party leaders Saurabh Bharadwaj and Sanjeev Jha, refuting allegations of irregularities in rice distribution in New Delhi. Sirsa gave both leaders a 24-hour ultimatum to withdraw their statements or face legal action.
Responding to the accusations on social media platform X, Sirsa called the campaign malicious and part of the opposition party's modus operandi. He stated that if the allegations were not retracted within 24 hours alongside a public apology, he would initiate legal proceedings against Bharadwaj and Jha to hold them accountable for their actions.
The conflict erupted after AAP Delhi chief Saurabh Bharadwaj addressed a press conference alleging corruption in the food distribution system. Bharadwaj claimed that an Assam-based corporation had approached Sirsa in January, offering to distribute subsidised rice to migrant workers and residents without ration cards.
According to Bharadwaj, Sirsa forwarded the proposal to a special commissioner on April 8, requesting that it be evaluated according to rules. Bharadwaj alleged that a departmental official emailed the Food Corporation of India the same day, requesting a supply of approximately 31,000 metric tonnes of rice per week for the Assam corporation.
Bharadwaj further alleged that rice purchased at around ₹23.20 per kilogram was redirected and sold in the open market to a private company in Haryana at nearly ₹46 per kilogram. He stated that the matter surfaced after a complaint was submitted to the Central Vigilance Commission, prompting the Delhi government to suspend the official who had sent the email to the Food Corporation of India.
Calling the suspension insufficient, AAP leaders Sanjeev Jha and Kuldeep Kumar demanded a comprehensive investigation by central agencies into the matter. Bharadwaj also urged Chief Minister Rekha Gupta to seek Sirsa's resignation if the minister was found to be involved in the alleged irregularities.
Sirsa firmly rejected all claims, stating that Bharadwaj and Jha had made baseless, false, fabricated, and malicious accusations specifically intended to defame and malign him.
