Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Oct 19: Residents of Maloora in the outskirts of Srinagar today blocked Srinagar-Bandipora highway alleging discrimination in ration distribution at the behest of some political workers.
Residents of the area came out on the highway in protest after they came to know that their ration cards were rejected by the department on the directions of some political workers.
“The political workers affiliated with different parties are interfering in the smooth functioning of the CAPD over the past couple of months. Now they are carrying a list and do not allow the genuine consumers to get the ration, sugar and atta from the depots,” the protestors said.
They said the height is that the CAPD officials are taking dictates from these political workers and rejecting the ration cards on the pretext that these are “fake”.
Residents said that these political workers are openly challenging the writ of the Government. Some ration cards were issued about 10 to 15 years ago but today the store keepers, under the influence of these political workers, are not entertaining the cards,” the protestors said.
An elderly woman said she was getting the food grains from the depot for the past 16 years but was surprised and shocked to know that her ration card has been rejected.
“Who has given them the right to reject my ration card. I have been filing the particulars every time the new ration card is issued. How it could be a fake?” she asked.
Another resident, Shabir Ahmad, said these goons have managed to get ration cards even in favour of their minor children while as the genuine consumers are subjected to hardships. “We will not tolerate this,” he said and demanded an inquiry into the matter.
Another consumer, Farooq Ahmad Bhat, said he had transferred his ration card from Khanyar in downtown Srinagar about two years ago but was informed that his ration card is not registered with the depot.
Qamar-ud-din has also transferred his ration card some years back and was even in possession of a transfer letter duly signed by Director of CAPD. However, the storekeeper did not entertain the letter and asked him to get the ration card stamped from the local Masjid Committee.
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