Harish hits out Centre, State Govt on pending commission to ration dealers

Senior BRS leader T Harish Rao criticized both the Centre and Telangana government for delaying commission payments to ration dealers. He demanded immediate release of central dues and six-month pending state payments, urging implementation of promised honorarium.

Hyderabad: Former Minister and senior BRS leader T Harish Rao on Tuesday hit out at both the Congress government in Telangana and the BJP-led Centre for failing to clear long-pending commissions to ration dealers.

Demanding immediate release of the Central commission and clearance of the six-month-pending dues by the State government, he insisted that the Congress government implement its manifesto promise of a Rs 5,000 honorarium without delay.

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Addressing a gathering of ration dealers at his residence in Hyderabad on Tuesday, Harish Rao said it was a shame that those distributing rice to the poor were themselves pushed into distress.

“It is unfortunate that ration dealers, who feed the hungry, are being starved due to the negligence of both governments,” he remarked.

The former Minister accused the Congress of betraying its election promises made under the Abhaya Hastam manifesto, which assured a Rs 5,000 monthly honorarium and enhanced commission.

“It has been 22 months, but nothing has been implemented. This government is all promises, but no action,” he charged.

Recalling the BRS regime’s record, Harish Rao said commissions were steadily increased from Rs.200 per metric tonne in 2014 to Rs.1,400 by 2023, despite an additional burden of Rs 139 crore. He pointed out that BRS also granted dealerships on compassionate grounds to families of dealers who died during the pandemic and raised the age limit for dealerships from 40 to 50 years.