Congress leaders flag fake ‘Six Guarantees’ cards, ask Meeseeva centres to display warnings

Hyderabad: During their election campaigning, Congress announced six guarantees that promised multiple benefits to all sections in Telangana. Now, many claiming to be brokers are distributing fake ‘Six Guarantees’ cards in Telangana, while demanding money in exchange.

In the first three days of the Congress coming to power, many such fake cards were printed and distributed across the 119 constituencies in Telangana.

Congress candidates, who contested in the recently concluded Telagnaan State Assembly elections, are now having people coming to their offices with these cards and demanding benefits.

G Niranjan, senior vice-president of Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC), has written to the director general of police (DGP) to issue orders to all Meeseva and online centres to not print such fake guarantee cards and mislead people.

Fake cards contain photos of Congress candidates

NewsMeter has found that fake guarantee cards are being sold for Rs 200 to Rs 500 per family allegedly with the help of Meeseva centres in the state. Such incidents were reported three days ago in the Bahadurpura Assembly constituency, ever since the Congress government came to power.

“I have registered a complaint in the police station against these fake cards. People are paying money for these cards which are being sold by people who are convincing them that only people with the cards will get benefits. Police must take action against these miscreants,” said Congress party leader in Goshamahal M Sunitha on Tuesday.

The photograph of a Congress candidate contesting from the constituency was printed on the fake card.

Use of Meeseva centres

G Niranjan says, “It is a gross misuse of the government centres. Miscreants, in connivance with those operating Meeseva, are trying to extract money from people. The registered centres must be instructed to create awareness that they are not issuing any guarantee cards. There must be notices placed outside centres that people must be aware of these fake cards which are being issued.”

“This is a mischievous act being done against the Congress party. The photograph of Congress candidates in the constituency is being purposely put on the cards. People must not get carried away with these fake cards,” he added.

Are there going to be real cards?

No, said Niranjan. “The Congress government in the state is going to identify those who need to benefit from the schemes and accordingly provide it to them. Pamphlets with the list of six guarantees were printed before elections to make voters aware of the schemes. Now, the beneficiaries will know about the schemes once they are rolled out. For example, the scheme regarding free bus rides for women has no cards. Aarogaysri beneficiaries have their cards and there is no need for any extra cards as of now.”

The Congress party alleged that these were acts of the Opposition to defame the government and create confusion about its public initiatives.