Tensions flare up between BRS, Congress leaders at ration cards distribution programme in Hyderabad

A ration card distribution event at Banjara Bhavan in Hyderabad turned tense as Congress Minister Ponnam Prabhakar and BRS MLC Dasoju Sravan clashed over ration card allocations. Sravan accused the Congress of creating false narratives and demanded official data release

Hyderabad: A ration card distribution programme at Banjara Bhavan in Hyderabad turned tense on Friday after Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar alleged that the previous BRS government did not issue a single ration card in nine and a half years. BRS MLC Dasoju Sravan and other corporators interrupted the Minister’s speech, accusing him of making misleading claims.

Addressing the beneficiaries, the Minister alleged that the previous BRS government had not issued a single ration card during its nine-and-a-half-year rule, triggering immediate protests from BRS leaders, including Sravan and local corporators. Amid the chaos, MLA Danam Nagender attempted to silence the BRS corporators, escalating tensions further at the event. The situation came under control after officials intervened.

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Countering the Minister, Sravan asserted that around 6.47 lakh new ration cards were issued between 2016 and 2023. He accused the Congress government of creating false narratives to erase past achievements. He said the BRS government had increased rice allocation from 4 kg to 6 kg per person and stressed that any denial of this would mislead the public.

He also raised serious concerns over discrepancies in card distribution. In the Khairatabad constituency, only 1,959 ration cards were sanctioned despite 22,399 applications, while neighbouring constituencies like Bahadurpura, Karwan, Jubilee Hills, and Nampally received over 5,000 cards each.

“This is not welfare, this is discrimination,” he said, demanding an explanation from the government. He also sought the release of official data on applications received and ration cards sanctioned.