Telangana: BRS exposes Rs 600 crore eggs scam in Gurukul contracts

BRS leader R S Praveen Kumar accused the Congress government of a Rs 600 crore food supply scam in Gurukul schools after GO 17 altered tender rules, allegedly sidelining small contractors in favour of politically connected firms. He demanded the GO’s repeal

Hyderabad: Amid recurring incidents of food poisoning and poor quality food in Gurukul schools and government welfare residential hostels, the main opposition BRS has exposed a major scam, said to be to the tune of Rs 600 crore. The party said the ruling Congress government had issued GO 17, which alters the process of awarding food supply contracts in Gurukuls, KGBVs and other residential schools.

Divulging the details at a press conference in Telangana Bhavan along with aggrieved food contractors on Tuesday, BRS leader and former IPS officer RS Praveen Kumar said Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy funnelled public wealth into the hands of a few rich contractors, while driving nearly 20,000 small traders and over a lakh dependents to ruin. In doing so, he said the Congress orchestrated a Rs 600 crore scam in egg contracts alone.

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Praveen Kumar said GO 17 relaxed rules to facilitate the replacement of existing small-scale contractors with a single large contractor per mandal, requiring an exorbitant Rs 50 lakh Earnest Money Deposit and a Rs 3 crore turnover for chicken and egg supply.

“Even after ten generations, small traders cannot muster such amounts,” he said.

Pointing out that under the BRS government, SC and ST contractors received subsidies, and egg supply rates were capped at just 30 paise above market price, the BRS leader stated that the new tender conditions were tailor-made for relatives of top Congress leaders, including those linked to K Jana Reddy and Chief Minister Revanth Reddy. He said officials were charging Rs 5,000 to Rs 25,000 just for application forms.

“The price of eggs has now been fixed at Rs 7, which is higher than the market price, enabling bureaucrats and Congress leaders to pocket hefty commissions, estimated to be around Rs 600 crore,” he added.

Dubbing the GO 17 a crime against the Social Welfare department, he demanded its immediate repeal. He warned that the BRS would launch an agitation and also approach the courts, unless the government initiates any action.

“We have evidence of commissions involving district collectors and additional collectors and will present it to the Chief Secretary soon,” he said, terming the GO a conspiracy to dismantle Gurukul systems for political gain.