Bengal Food Minister Ashok Kirtania orders removal of whole wheat flour from ration items

Kolkata, May 12 West Bengal's newly-appointed Food and Supplies Minister Ashok Kirtania on Tuesday stated that whole wheat flour will be removed from the list of ration items distributed in the state, contending that it contributes to the maximum number of scams and corruption in the state's public distribution system.

Speaking to IANS, Minister Kirtania urged people to give the newly formed Bengal government one week in order to get clarity on the government's plan of action.

"The party (BJP) has given us a very big responsibility. The party believes that the biggest scams in Bengal have taken place in the food and education sectors," he said.

"It has assigned me the responsibility of one department. I will do my best to maintain the party’s trust. And I would like to say one thing, 'enough is enough'. No more scams will be allowed to take place."

Kirtania cautioned that anyone indulging in any kind of scam or corruption won't be spared. "Whether it is an officer or mill owner, one who is engaged in any kind of misdeed won't be forgiven".

He further said that in the present times, the biggest scam in the food sector is taking place with flour.

"I have already asked the authorities concerned to remove whole wheat flour from the ration items," he said.

The minister, however, noted that the authorities have informed him that such a decision would incur losses for the government since a significant amount of flour is already in stock.

"Therefore, only that portion of the flour which has already been ground from grain so far will be allowed for distribution. After that, the ration in West Bengal won't include whole wheat flour," he clarified.

Meanwhile, another newly appointed minister, Dilip Ghosh, on Tuesday alleged that most leaders of the Trinamool Congress are corrupt, a day after the Enforcement Directorate arrested former state minister Sujit Bose in connection with a municipal recruitment corruption case.

Last week, BJP's Suvendu Adhikari took oath as the party's first Chief Minister in West Bengal. Along with him, five MLAs also took oath as Ministers in the Cabinet.

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