Harish Rao suggests the Govt. sell rice lying in godowns to pay dues to ration traders

BRS leader T. Harish Rao at a meeting of grocers at Pragnapur near Gajwel on Tuesday. | Photo credit: By arrangement

HYDERABAD

Former minister and deputy floor leader of BRS T. Harish Rao alleged that the Congress government had pushed the Civil Supplies Corporation into a debt of ₹ 1,00,000 crore and rice worth ₹ 600 crore was left to the rats.

Addressing a meeting of state food vendors held at Pragnapur near Gajwel on Tuesday, he said the state of affairs in the present government can be gauged from the statement of ruling party MLA (from Jadcherla) J. Anirudh Reddy, who openly declared that he was ready to die if “that is what it takes to get the pending bills of my constituency settled”.

He said that ₹ 600 million worth of coarse varieties of rice had been lying in cupboards and stores for the past 16 months and were now full of weevils and being eaten by rats and bandicoots. He suggested the government should at least sell it to clear the accounts of the ration traders.

There was money for ₹100 crore for a camp office for the chief minister, ₹18 crore for its wall and enough funds for beauty pageants and football shows. However, the government did not have the money to pay ₹10 million per month to 17,200 dealers as commission.

He pointed out that the Congress party had promised the ration traders an honorarium of ₹ 5,000 per month, but it was not forthcoming even three years after the party came to power.

Food traders’ body president Naikoti Raju told the meeting that he was ready to give up his life to get dues from the government.

Patancheru MLA Guddem Mahipal Reddy, State Honorary President of Dealers Association, MLC Yadava Reddy, Former FDC Chairman Vanteru Pratap Reddy, Association General Secretaries Srikanth, Dharavath Mohan Naik and Azeez and others.

Published – 27 Oct 2026 21:48 IST