Tirath Singh Rawat, the chief minister of Uttarakhand, has sparked yet another controversy by claiming that the state’s people have never received sugar as part of rationing during a disaster since independence.
Speaking at a function in Uttarkashi on Saturday, Rawat said, “Sugar was never distributed since independence. Never in any sorrow, difficulty or disaster… we are distributing sugar (as part of ration) for three months… we have passed a proposal in this regard in cabinet meeting yesterday (Friday).”
When contacted, the CM said what he meant was that the Covid-19 period is also a disaster, during which for the first time, his government is distributing sugar as part of the ration. “So far during disasters in the state, wheat, rice and pulses have been distributed, but sugar has never been distributed,” he said
Udit Ghildiyal, part of CM’s media team, said Rawat’s statement has been misinterpreted. “Till a few years ago, sugar was part of the ration. But then the price of sugar in ration and in the market became almost same…the CM decided that till August, sugar should be provided as part of the ration to 23 lakh (2.3 million) cardholders in the state,” Ghildiyal said.
At the cabinet meeting on Friday, it was decided that the state’s 2.3 million ration cardholders would receive 2 kg sugar per head at a lower price than the market price.
