Harish Rao Alleges Neglect of Ration Dealers, Demands Congress Fulfil Poll Promises | Hyderabad News

Hyderabad: Former minister T Harish Rao accused the Congress govt of neglecting ration dealers and failing to honour key promises made in its election manifesto. He urged the state govt to immediately hold talks with representatives of ration dealers and address their longstanding demands.Addressing a statewide meeting of ration dealers at Pragnapur in Siddipet district on Tuesday, Harish Rao said the situation had deteriorated to the extent that even a ruling Congress MLA had publicly expressed frustration over pending bills. Referring to remarks reportedly made by Jadcherla MLA Anirudh Reddy, Harish Rao questioned whether people now had to risk their lives to get government dues cleared.The BRS leader alleged that Congress had promised a monthly honorarium of ₹5,000, a commission of ₹300 per quintal, and the conversion of ration shops into mini-supermarkets, but had failed to implement any of these assurances even three years after coming to power. He said ration dealers had only been asking the government to fulfil its manifesto commitments.Harish Rao also criticized the handling of food grain stocks by the civil supplies department. According to him, nearly one lakh metric tonnes of coarse rice are lying unused in warehouses and distribution points, while additional stocks remain in ration shops. He claimed that rice worth around ₹600 crore had deteriorated due to prolonged storage and infestation by insects and rodents.He alleged that timely disposal of the stock could have generated revenue sufficient to fund higher commissions and honorariums for ration dealers. Harish Rao further claimed that dealers were being unfairly burdened with losses caused by spoilage and shortages in the stored grain.The former minister also expressed concern over the financial condition of the civil supplies corporation, alleging that it had accumulated liabilities nearing ₹1 lakh crore due to state government policies and delayed fund releases.Maintaining that ration dealers play a crucial role in supplying food to poor households, Harish Rao warned that govts should not underestimate their influence. He demanded that CM Revanth Reddy and civil supplies minister Uttam Kumar Reddy immediately convene discussions with ration dealers’ representatives and implement the promises made to them.He said the BRS would continue to raise the issue in both the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council until the dealers’ concerns were addressed.ends/