Pb Govt. will not allow the Central Government’s attempt to snatch food right from 55 lakh Punjabis – Harjot Bains
Bahadurjeet Singh/royalpatiala.in News/ Rupnagar, August 24,2025 Cabinet Minister Harjot Singh Bains, strongly condemned the BJP-led Central Government’s move to deprive 55 lakh poor and needy Punjabis of their right to food.
He said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Punjab Government stands firmly with its people and will never allow such anti-people plans to succeed.
He added that both legal remedies and mass movements will be launched to safeguard people’s rights.
He said, “Earlier this government stole votes. Then it attempted to steal Punjab’s waters. Now it is stealing the personal data of Punjabis and planning to snatch the ration of poor families.”
He alleged that the BJP, under the guise of holding camps in different districts to deliver benefits of Central schemes, is actually engaged in data theft and misuse of personal information. Punjab Government, he said, will not permit such personal data collection camps. If anyone attempts to hold these camps forcefully, strict action will be taken.
Bains revealed that under the excuse of incomplete KYC registration, the Central Government had already stopped the free ration of 23 lakh Punjabis in July, and has issued threats to cut off ration for another 32 lakh beneficiaries from September 30.
He said, “This exposes the anti-Punjab and anti-poor mindset of the BJP government. Through the pretext of KYC, they are attempting to deprive the poorest of their rightful facilities. Out of Punjab’s 1.55 crore population, nearly 55 lakh are being targeted for exclusion.”
He further warned that after ration cards, the Centre would move to cancel health cards and Ayushman Bharat cards as well.
Minister said that Punjabis have always stood firmly with the nation – whether it was filling the country’s food reserves or defending its borders – yet the BJP government continues to treat Punjab with step-motherly discrimination.
He recalled how Punjab bore the brunt of Operation Blue Star in the past and is now suffering from floods, while the Centre has left Punjab to drown. “When there was water scarcity, they looted our waters, and now during floods, they have abandoned Punjab,” he said.
Accusing the BJP, he said that after “vote theft” the government is now indulging in “ration theft.” He pointed out that Punjab has been specifically targeted in this ration cut-off drive, despite the fact that history stands witness to Punjab’s unparalleled contribution in making India self-reliant in food grain production.
Speaking about Rupnagar district, Bains said many families in the area migrate to Gulf countries for livelihood, while local landowners with just 2.5 acres of barren land in hilly and kandi areas are also being denied ration cards.
He added that most people here earn their living as taxi drivers, but despite owning old vehicles with meager income, their names too are being struck off the ration card lists.
Bains reiterated that the Punjab Government will never allow these anti-Punjab schemes of the Centre to succeed and will fight vigorously to protect the interests of its people.
On this occasion, Rupnagar MLA Adv. Dinesh Chadha, Sri Chamkaur Sahib MLA Dr. Charanjit Singh, AAP District President Dr. Sanjeev Gautam, Chairman Saini Welfare Board Ram Kumar Mukhari, District Social Media Incharge Raj Kumar Khosla, District Youth President Chetan Kalia, Chairman Market Committee Ropar Bhag Singh Madan, Chairman Improvement Trust Ropar Shiv Kumar Lalpura, Rajinder Dhiman, Navpreet Sharma, and other dignitaries were present.
