West Bengal’s Food and Supplies Minister, Ashok Kirtania, announced the removal of whole wheat flour from the state’s ration items, citing its association with scams and corruption in the public distribution system. Minister Kirtania emphasized the need for clarity on the government’s strategy, urging the public to allow a week for this. He highlighted the party’s concerns regarding scams in the food and education sectors, expressing a commitment to prevent further malpractices.
Kirtania affirmed a zero-tolerance policy towards corruption, warning that individuals involved in any misconduct, whether officials or mill owners, will face consequences. He identified flour as a focal point of fraudulent activities in the food sector and instructed the exclusion of whole wheat flour from ration supplies. Despite potential government losses due to existing flour stocks, only processed flour will be distributed until depletion, after which it will be phased out from the ration system.
In a separate development, newly appointed Minister Dilip Ghosh accused many Trinamool Congress leaders of corruption following the arrest of a former state minister by the Enforcement Directorate in a recruitment scandal. Recently, Suvendu Adhikari was sworn in as West Bengal’s first BJP Chief Minister, accompanied by five MLAs taking ministerial oaths, marking a significant political transition in the state.
