Waheed Parra questions Govt for canceling 1.27 Lakh Ration Cards in J&K

SRINAGAR: People's Democratic Party (PDP) leader and MLA Pulwama, Waheed Ur Rehman Parra, on Thursday questioned the Jammu and Kashmir government over the cancellation of 1.27 lakh ration cards in Jammu & Kashmir. Calling the decision arbitrary and unjust, Parra, in a statement, said it had deprived lakhs of people of their basic right to food, especially those who had been receiving additional rations under the Mufti Mohammad Sayeed Food Entitlement Scheme (MMSFES).   

Parra said, “The government must answer on what grounds these ration cards have been cancelled. Were proper surveys conducted, or is this yet another attempt to strip vulnerable families of their basic entitlements? The silence of the government on this critical issue is unacceptable.”   

Parra asserted that lakhs of people had benefited from the additional ration under the Mufti Mohammad Sayeed Food Entitlement Scheme, which was introduced to fight hunger and ensure that no family in Jammu & Kashmir went to bed hungry. “However, the current government’s silence on this critical issue, despite big claims of increased ration quantities in their manifesto, is shocking and indicative of a tactical understanding. The government's actions contradict their promises and leave vulnerable families in a state of uncertainty,” he added.   

Parra criticized the Omar Abdullah-led government for failing to protect food security while focusing on counterproductive policies and other measures that impacted dignity, identity, and resources.  “Instead of ensuring food and basic support for those in need, this government has resorted to stripping them of their rights. Is this the kind of governance they promised—one that thrives on taking away entitlements? Such decisions deepen the suffering of the already marginalized,” he remarked.   

Parra pointed out that the Mufti Mohammad Sayeed Food Entitlement Scheme was launched with the vision of fighting hunger and ensuring no family in J&K sleeps hungry, as well as promoting the economic and social well-being of its citizens. “This scheme was a lifeline for many, and cancelling ration cards without justification is an attack on the very dignity and survival of the people. It is shocking that a government which claimed to increase ration supplies in its manifesto is now depriving people of even their basic food security,” he added.   

Urging Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to intervene, Parra said, “The government should be clear and dedicated to serving the people, not oppressing them. These moves reflect a governance model that prioritizes power over public welfare. The people of Jammu and Kashmir deserve better.”  

He further said that such decisions would only worsen inflation, unemployment, and food insecurity. “At a time when people are already struggling, such policies are adding insult to injury. The government must immediately reverse this decision and reinstate the ration cards to protect the dignity and rights of the affected families,” he demanded.   

Parra urged Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to personally intervene in the matter. “I urge the Chief Minister to ensure that our basic entitlements are not diluted nor snatched. The ration card system is not just a welfare measure; it is a lifeline for thousands. No institution has the right to diminish it,” he said.  “This move is a betrayal of the promises made to the people of J&K. The government must remember that its role is to uplift, not oppress,” he concluded.