New Delhi: A ration distributor in Haryana’s Karnal district had his licence suspended on Wednesday, August 10 after he was found to be withholding rations from people who didn’t buy a Rs 20 national flag from the ration depot as well.
Reports had emerged earlier on Wednesday highlighting the fact that ration distributors in Karnal and other districts in the state were forcing people to buy tricolours, which was met with opposition from the intended beneficiaries.
On the occasion of India’s 75th year of Independence, the Union government had launched the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign to have every family to fly the national flag from their home on Independence Day, August 15.
Deputy commissioner (DC), Karnal, Anish Yadav told the Indian Express that the ration depot holder from the Hemda village in the district had been found to be forcing ration card holders to spend Rs 20 on the flag and that as soon as the matter came to the knowledge of the authorities, the depot holder’s licence was suspended “with immediate effect”.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, the distributor in question had said that the department inspector had given the instructions that the purchase of flags was mandatory and that he was only following orders from the government.
However, DC Yadav told the Express that the flags had been provided to the ration depots for the convenience of the people and that they could purchase the flag at Rs 20 if they so chose. “Nobody needs to be misled,” the newspaper quoted him as saying.
Also read: ‘Selling Nationalism’: Rahul Gandhi Alleges Ration Card Holders ‘Forced’ To Buy National Flag
On Wednesday, a video made by a website called, ‘Karnal Breaking News’ had been shared by numerous social media users, including Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator Varun Gandhi, which showed ration card holders expressing their anger at being forced to purchase the flags.
आजादी की 75वीं वर्षगाँठ का उत्सव गरीबों पर ही बोझ बन जाए तो दुर्भाग्यपूर्ण होगा।
राशनकार्ड धारकों को या तिरंगा खरीदने पर मजबूर किया जा रहा है या उसके बदले उनके हिस्से का राशन काटा जा रहा है।
हर भारतीय के हृदय में बसने वाले तिरंगे की कीमत गरीब का निवाला छीन कर वसूलना शर्मनाक है। pic.twitter.com/pYKZCfGaCV
— Varun Gandhi (@varungandhi80) August 10, 2022
All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi, too, shared the video on Twitter, writing, “Ration is a right of the poor, not a donation from Modi.”
तिरंगा नहीं ख़रीदोगे तो राशन नहीं मिलेगा?! राशन ग़रीब का हक़ है, मोदी की तरफ़ से ख़ैरात नहीं। 🇮🇳 हमारे बुजुर्गों के ख़्वाबों का प्रतीक है, उनका ख़्वाब था कि मुल्क से भुखमरी और ग़ुरबत का सफ़ाया हो। उनका ख़्वाब तिरंगे को DP में देखने का नहीं था। ये “हफ़्ता-वसूली” है, देशभक्ति नहीं pic.twitter.com/8YLuZZaAuN
— Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) August 10, 2022
The card holders, both in the video and those quoted in other media reports, raised the issue of inflation, saying that they were having a hard enough time making ends meet in the current scenario – without having to purchase a Rs 20 flag.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had taken shots at the BJP after the developments came to light, accusing the party in power at the centre and the state of “selling nationalism” and “attacking the self-respect of the poor in the country”.
Amidst the criticism, the Union government had issued a statement through the Press Information Bureau (PIB) Twitter handle claiming that no such instruction had been given and that an “errant” ration shop had been misrepresenting the facts and had consequently had its licence suspended.
Some social media posts claim that Govt of India has instructed denial of ration to people not buying national flag
▶️The claim is not true
▶️No such instruction has been given by GoI
▶️Errant ration shop has been suspended for violating orders of Govt & misrepresenting facts pic.twitter.com/MA34l34g1n
— PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) August 10, 2022