Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Pralhad Joshi has said that 1.41 crore beneficiaries from Punjab would continue to get free foodgrains. He said the Centre had not reduced even a single beneficiary under the National Food Security Act 2013.

Our Correspondent reports that he was reacting to the allegations made yesterday by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann that the Central government is going to stop free food grains to 55 lakh poor Punjab residents. Addressing the media in New Delhi, Mr Joshi said that the allegations of punjab government are baseless and untrue.

Mr Joshi said as per the National Food Security Act 2013, it is the responsibility of the State government to identify eligible beneficiaries based on their own exclusion and inclusion criteria, and that the Central government has no role in this. He said that the mandatory eKYC of beneficiaries was directed by the Supreme Court, and Centre has given three extensions to Punjab government to do the same.