By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, March 29, 2016 : The Naveen Patnaik government on Tuesday came for a sharp attack by the Opposition parties over irregularities in the distribution of cards to avail the subsidised food grains under the scheme.

The Opposition demanded formation of House Committee to investigate the alleged irregularities.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members alleged that the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has turned NFSA into ‘Biju Khadya Yojna’ (Biju Food Scheme).

“The ruling party has distributed ration cards to its workers which has deprived a large number of eligible beneficiaries. Left out people have been agitating at panchayats to get their rights,” BJP leader Pradeep Purohit said.

Opposition chief whip and Congress leader Taraprasad Bahinipati said that NFSA was implemented by the Congress-led UPA-II government to provide subsidized food grains to poor across the country.

“It is unfortunate that BJD workers and leaders have availed ration cards. There have been largescale irregularities and the state government has failed to implement the Act. We staged a walkout protesting against it,” Taraprasad Bahinipati said.

Referring to former Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) Mayor Anita Behera, Bahinipati said, many leaders of the ruling party have availed the cards which has been proved by her resignation.

On the other hand, the ruling party defended the government and hit out at the Centre for not implementing the Act in Gujarat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s home state.

“There have been no irregularities in the enumeration and distribution of ration cards. It is a continuous process of inclusion of beneficiaries. Around 83.83 lakh households have been included under the Act. Those who have not yet been included can enrol themselves at designated centres in blocks and municipalities,” Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Sanjay Dasburma said.