Chandigarh: The local ration distributors reportedly aren’t giving people their due ration for this month in Hemda village, Karnal district, Haryana, unless they first pay Rs 20 on an Indian flag.
“Those who don’t have the money to even pay for ration, where will they get the money to buy a flag?” said a resident of Karnal in a viral social media video.
While only the incident in Karnal has come to light, claims that similar incidents are occurring around the district in other ration shops are also heard.
This occurs while the nation is making extensive preparations to mark its 76th Independence Day, or “Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav,” as Prime Minister Narendra Modi has dubbed it.
Ration merchants claimed that government officials had instructed them to exclusively distribute rations this month together with the sale of national flags. The merchants are reportedly eager to recoup the Rs 20 they previously paid for each flag.
“Instead of pushing for flags in every home, why not push for jobs in every home,” says a young woman.
“If that happens, if there’s no unemployment, there won’t be difficulties in so many households. Right now people are worried even about affording ration.”
Ration card holders have reportedly spoken out forcefully against this choice. They have said that they already struggle to make ends meet as a result of inflation and the rise in the cost of other essential items, let alone having to spend an additional Rs 20 on a flag.
The licence of the ration shop holder has been suspended and authorities claim that he was not asked to force people to buy flags.
The depot owner, on the other hand, asserted that in order to provide rations, he was required by officials to sell the tricolor for Rs 20. He said that the department inspector had given the same instructions directly.
