On Friday, Jitesh Patil, the Kamareddy district collector, was reprimanded by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman after he could not respond to a question on the proportions of the federal government and the state to the rice sold through fair pricing stores.
Ms. Sitharaman also questioned Collector Jitesh Patil as to why the picture of Prime Minister Narendra Modi was missing at the store in Birkur, given that the Center bears the lion's share of the subsidized rice that is being sold to beneficiaries in the state for one rupee as part of the BJP's "Lok Sabha Pravas Yojana."
"Rice that costs 35 rupees on the free market was given to folks here for 1 rupee. How much is the state government bearing?" she asked the Collector.
She said that the Center was delivering the rice at PDS stores while paying all the costs, including transportation and storage, and was attempting to determine whether the people were receiving the free rice.
According to Ms. Sitharaman, the Centre contributes around $30, the State contributes approximately $4, and the Beneficiaries contribute $1.
She emphasized that beginning in March and continuing through April 2020, the Center has been giving away free rice, valued at 30 and 35 rupees, to beneficiaries and state governments.
When the official could not respond, the Union minister instructed him to do so within the following 30 minutes.
"You give it some thought, and a half-hour later, once more, before my media speech (come up with an answer). I want to be able to tell them that even though the Collector couldn't respond to my query right away, he fought to find the solution, "She chastised.
She said that when a request to display the PM's photos at the Telangana fair pricing stores was made in the past, it was denied. She asserted that the BJP members who came forward to display the photos were also denied access.
"I'm telling you right now. The PM's flag will be erected here by our people. As the district administrator, you will see that it is not taken away. So that it won't be ripped, "She advised the Collector.
She declares, "I will return here if a banner is not present."
According to the Union minister, the Modi administration is responsible for paying the entire cost of the 5 kilograms of free foodgrains distributed under the Centre's PM Garib Kalyan Yojana.
"The Modi government covers more than 80% of the cost of foodgrains under NFSA. Is it offensive to show a poster or banner of Prime Minister Modi at ration stores? I'm Smt. @nsitharaman "Tweets from her office.
When the Finance Minister was en route to Banswada earlier, several Congress workers attempted to demonstrate. Police got involved and scattered the crowd.