Delhi minister and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa has issued a 24-hour ultimatum demanding that Aam Aadmi Party leaders Saurabh Bharadwaj and Sanjeev Jha retract their allegations regarding a purported ₹22,000 crore rice scam and issue a public apology.
Ultimatum Issued Over Allegations
According to statements posted on X by Manjinder Singh Sirsa, the legal warning follows claims made by Saurabh Bharadwaj concerning the alleged diversion of subsidised rice intended for Delhi’s low-income residents. Sirsa characterized the accusations as false and malicious, stating that they were intended to defame and malign him. He warned that failure to comply within the 24-hour window will result in legal proceedings.
“I give both Saurabh Bharadwaj and Sanjeev Jha 24 hours to withdraw these false allegations and issue a public apology, failing which I shall be constrained to initiate appropriate legal proceedings against both of them and hold them accountable for these malicious acts,” Sirsa wrote, adding the phrase “Apology or will meet in court.”
Details of the Alleged Rice Diversion
The controversy stems from a press conference held by Saurabh Bharadwaj, where he alleged that a ₹143 crore weekly scam was underway. Bharadwaj claimed that the Rekha Gupta government and an Assam-based corporation formally approached the Food Corporation of India (FCI) to secure subsidised rice meant for distribution to the poor and needy in Delhi. Around 31,000 metric tonnes of rice per week were reportedly sought under this arrangement.
Bharadwaj alleged that rather than reaching intended beneficiaries, the subsidised grain was sold to an unnamed private company in Haryana. He stated that rice obtained at approximately ₹23.20 per kg was sold in the open market for ₹46 per kg, generating a commission of ₹23 per kg. He estimated the total value of the transactions to reach ₹22,000 crore over a planned three-year period. In response to these claims, Bharadwaj and Sanjeev Jha stated that documents relating to the arrangement would be made public and called for an official explanation from the Delhi government.
Did You Know? The allegations center around a procurement volume of approximately 31,000 metric tonnes of rice per week, which AAP leaders claim was sourced through an arrangement involving the Rekha Gupta government, an Assam-based corporation, and the Food Corporation of India.
Political Implications and Potential Next Steps
Frequently Asked Questions
What triggered the legal warning from Manjinder Singh Sirsa?
Sirsa threatened legal action after AAP leaders Saurabh Bharadwaj and Sanjeev Jha alleged a ₹22,000 crore rice scam involving the diversion of subsidised rice meant for Delhi’s poor.
What specific allegations did the Aam Aadmi Party make?
At a press conference, Saurabh Bharadwaj alleged that 31,000 metric tonnes of subsidised rice per week were procured through the Rekha Gupta government and an Assam-based corporation, then sold to a private firm in Haryana at a higher market rate, creating a weekly margin of ₹143 crore.
What demand has been made of the AAP leaders?
Sirsa has given Bharadwaj and Jha 24 hours to withdraw their claims and issue a public apology, or face legal proceedings.
Keep reading