Punjab man comes in a Mercedes to pick up subsidised ration. Netizens stunned

Amid a raging debate over freebies, a video has gone viral on the internet in which a person can be seen loading subsidised ration in a Mercedes!

The incident supposedly took place in Punjab's Hoshiarpur. As per the viral video, which has been retweeted by several Twitter users, a person is seen loading sacks of ration in the boot of his car bearing a number plate belonging to state of Punjab. He was reportedly picking wheat which is being sold at Rs 2 per kg for BPL families and is being given under the Ata Dal scheme by the Punjab Government.

The video has angered the netizens who rightly pointed out that the ratio is meant for people living under Below Poverty Line (BPL).


The ration meant for BPL families are being sold at extremly cheap price - at Rs 2 per kg - so that they poorest of poor won't have to go to bed on an empty stomach.

The video reportedly was taken by a by-stander.

The man in question however defended himself saying that the car belongs to one of his relatives who is not in India. "They don't live in India, and park the car at our place. It's a diesel car, so we just start it in a few days and take a few rounds," the person, identified as Ramesh Saini, was quoted as saying by NDTV.

The video came amid a raging debate over freebies. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has in recent days hit out at the competitive populism of extending 'rewaris' (freebies) which are not just wastage of taxpayers' money but also an economic disaster that could hamper India's drive to become atmanirbhar (self-reliant).

His comments were seen directed at parties like the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) which have in the run-up to assembly election in states like Punjab and more recently Gujarat promised free electricity and water, among others.