Ridiculous to have photo of PM at ration shops: TS finance minister

Hyderabad: Visual displays or photos of PM at ration shops have become a bone of contention in Telangana. Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said photographs of Prime Minister Narendra Modi must be displayed at ration shops as the Central government distributes foodgrains under the National Food Security Act.

During a visit to public distribution system (PDS) shops at Birkur in Kamareddy district, Ms. Sitharaman questioned officials of the civil supplies department on how much rice the Central government was providing. The flustered official was hesitant to answer and Ms. Sitharaman snapped at his colleague who tried to help him. Under the National Food Security Act, the Central government provides foodgrains at subsidized rates rice and coarse grains like bajara.

In a tweet, the finance minister's office said the state has about 1.91 crore beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act.

Meanwhile, Telangana finance and health minister Harish Rao asked Ms. Sitharaman what was the logic in putting the PM's photograph in ration shops. He said, "I strongly condemn the remarks of Nirmala Sitharaman. It is ridiculous to have the photograph of the PM at ration shops. This will degrade the position of the PM. Why are Union ministers coming to the state and behaving in this manner? The Union finance minister must apologize."

Angry with the manner in which the Union minister behaved with the Kamareddy district collector for not giving a satisfactory response, Mr. Rao asked her to answer questions in the Parliament. Ms. Sitharaman had asked the collector to find details about the distribution of rice and inform her in half an hour. Mr. Rao said, "The BJP government claims that they are giving the entire rice. The rice is given at Rs. 3 per kg of which Rs. 2 is given by the Telangana government. The state gives 10 kg of rice to each beneficiary. The TS government is spending Rs. 3,610 crores for ration rice." Telangana is contributing to the growth of the nations, will you put CM KCR's photo too? he asked and told BJP to speak the truth.

"Union ministers are coming from Delhi and telling lies. Isn't it a mockery of democracy?" he added.

Comparing the Ayushman Bharat and Arogyasree scheme, Mr. Rao continued, "The Central government sanctioned Rs. 150 crores to Telangana and the state has already spent Rs. 858 crores and 50 lakhs. Why has the Center released only Rs. 150 crores?" Angry at being accused of the government not doing much, he said, "The BJP has got the whole country bankrupt. Is there anything more that I must say?"