Punjab is facing a heated political standoff over the National Food Security Act (NFSA) ration entitlements. The ongoing controversy centers on inclusion and exclusion of beneficiaries. When the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) came to power in 2022, Punjab counted about 1.43 crore beneficiaries, which rose to 1.57 crore—well above the Centre’s sanctioned 1.41 crore. This prompted a rigorous verification drive, with around 13 lakh ineligible names struck off. However, ahead of the recent Lok Sabha polls, Punjab restored 10.77 lakh names, swelling the figure again to nearly 1.53 crore.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has publicly accused the central government of a “conspiracy to snatch ration from the poor,” asserting that over 55 lakh families were at risk of being excluded due to the Centre’s insistence on e-KYC verification. Mann addressed people directly, stating, “They are striking off 23 lakh people citing pending e-KYC, and another 32 lakh on grounds they do not qualify as poor. This means ration is being taken away from 55 lakh families.”
In response, the Union government has maintained that the e-KYC process was mandated by the Supreme Court, and states—not the Centre—determine beneficiary eligibility. The Centre has given Punjab several extensions and insists the original 1.41 crore quota will continue without cuts. Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar hit back at Mann, accusing him of misleading the people and reminding that the AAP-ruled state government cancelled over 10 lakh ration cards in 2023, only to reverse its decision later.
The dispute has further intensified with BJP attempting to conduct welfare outreach camps across Punjab—a move the AAP government alleges is a cover for illegal data collection and potential fraud. Police have launched investigations, and several BJP leaders were detained during Sunday’s outreach events. The BJP, through public statements, has called these actions an affront to democracy, vowing to press on with their campaign while accusing the AAP of deliberately withholding central government benefits and suppressing political opposition.
