Sirsa Threatens Legal Action Over Rice Scam Claim
Delhi Food and Supplies Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa has given AAP leaders Saurabh Bharadwaj and Sanjeev Jha 24 hours to withdraw allegations linking his department to a purported ₹22,000 crore subsidised rice scam, warning that he will initiate legal proceedings if they fail to apologise.
Sirsa Gives AAP Leaders 24-Hour Ultimatum
Sirsa rejected the allegations as false, fabricated and malicious, accusing the AAP leaders of attempting to damage his reputation.
He demanded that Bharadwaj and Jha publicly retract their claims and apologise within 24 hours, warning that failure to do so would result in legal action.
No court has established the alleged scam, and the accusations remain political claims at this stage.
AAP Alleges ₹22,000 Crore Rice Scam Plan
Bharadwaj alleged that the Delhi government and an Assam-based corporation approached the Food Corporation of India for around 31,000 metric tonnes of subsidised rice every week, ostensibly for distribution among poor residents.
AAP claims the rice, acquired at approximately ₹23.20 per kg, was instead proposed to be sold to a private Haryana company at around ₹46 per kg.
Bharadwaj estimated the alleged difference at about ₹143 crore per week and claimed the arrangement could have involved transactions worth approximately ₹22,000 crore over three years.
Delhi Rice Allegations Spark BJP-AAP Clash
AAP leaders have said they possess documents concerning the alleged arrangement and have demanded an explanation from the Rekha Gupta government.
Sirsa has categorically denied wrongdoing and challenged the AAP leaders to substantiate their accusations or face legal proceedings.
The dispute has now become the latest political confrontation between the BJP and AAP in Delhi.
