Hyderabad : Civil Supplies and Irrigation Minister Capt N Uttam Kumar Reddy has accused the BJP and BRS of spreading false accusations against the Congress government. Uttam Kumar Reddy, along with Industries Minister D Sridhar Babu, MLCs T Jeevan Reddy and Mahesh Kumar Goud, and other leaders, addressed a press conference at Gandhi Bhavan on Sunday. Uttam Kumar Reddy claimed that both BRS and BJP were collaborating to defame the Congress government, particularly targeting the Civil Supplies Department with baseless allegations of corruption.
He emphasised the efficiency and transparency of the current Congress government’s grain purchasing process, stating that payments to farmers were made within three to four days, unlike during the previous BRS administration. “We have purchased more paddy and deposited the money into the farmers’ accounts faster than the BRS did,” he said. He also highlighted that the previous BRS government left the Civil Supply Corporation in massive debt, with liabilities amounting to Rs 59,000 crores and losses of Rs 11,000 crores.
He pointed out that the government had taken revolutionary steps, including purchasing grain damaged by recent rains at the Minimum Support Price (MSP). Helplines were also established, and a special drive was initiated to reduce wastage and increase profits for farmers. The minister dismissed allegations of a Rs 1,000 crore scam as wholly unfounded and accused opposition leaders of irresponsible and malicious behaviour. Addressing the accusations from BRS leader KTR and BJP leader Maheshwar Reddy, Uttam Kumar Reddy criticised them for speaking without understanding the issues.
Also Read-
He stated that BRS and BJP leaders did not verify the figures before levelling baseless allegations. He clarified that not a single grain of fine rice had been purchased and that the government would buy any amount of fine rice at Rs 42 per kg if it meets other conditions of the tender. He explained that not a single rupee was spent on fine rice and that the global tender referred to by BRS and BJP leaders had already been cancelled.
Furthermore, he said that only Rs 200 crore worth of grain had been purchased so far. “How could a Rs 2,000 crore scam occur in the purchase of grain worth only Rs 200 crore?” he questioned. Referring to BRS leader KTR’s allegation that tender rules were relaxed for the blacklisted Kendriya Bhandar, he stated it was the BRS government that blacklisted Kendriya Bhandar and later lifted it. Therefore, the present Congress government had nothing to do with its blacklisting.
Uttam Kumar Reddy warned that false propaganda by the opposition is not good for the state. He alleged that Maheshwar Reddy had bought his position as BJP floor leader through financial means. “It is not our culture to engage in such practices,” Reddy said. Uttam Kumar Reddy further stated that the Congress government was strict with defaulter rice millers and would not tolerate corruption. He claimed that the BJP and BRS were speaking on behalf of these defaulters, creating unnecessary trouble for the farmers.
He also noted that under the Congress government, the price of a quintal of grain increased from Rs 1,700 to Rs 2,400, resulting in an additional income for farmers. He assured that strict action would be taken against any officials found committing irregularities and reiterated the Congress government’s dedication to supporting farmers and ensuring the integrity of the Civil Supply Department.
