In a sharp political attack, the Bharatiya Janata Party's state president in Telangana has accused Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and the ruling Congress party of deliberately spreading false information about a central government scheme for political gain.
Allegations of a Deliberate Misinformation Campaign
On Saturday, BJP Telangana president N Ramchander Rao held a press conference at the party's state office in Hyderabad. He alleged that Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy is misleading the public about the G RAM G Act as part of a calculated misinformation campaign by the Congress.
Rao stated that the Congress is resorting to these tactics because it fears the overwhelming support the BJP is garnering ahead of the upcoming municipal elections in the state. He claimed the people of Telangana have now experienced what he termed the 'anti-people' governance of both the previous BRS regime and the current Congress administration.
The G RAM G Act: A Modernized MGNREGA?
Addressing the core of the controversy, Rao provided the BJP's perspective on the contentious legislation. He explained that the G RAM G Act is essentially a modernized and redesigned version of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
The BJP leader asserted that the revamped Act is specifically tailored to better address the needs of the rural poor. Its primary objectives, according to Rao, include:
- Expanding employment opportunities within villages.
- Providing a greater number of working days to beneficiaries.
- Offering enhanced economic security to needy households.
"These two parties are now colluding to mislead the public with false propaganda against the BJP," Rao alleged, linking the Congress and the BRS in the effort.
Clash Over Rice Distribution and Credit Claiming
The BJP state chief also launched a broadside against the Congress government's management of the public distribution system (PDS). He posed a direct question, asking whether the chief minister was unaware that the Central government is supplying 5 kg of free rice per month to beneficiaries through ration shops under the National Food Security Act.
Rao accused the state government of attempting to claim undue credit for this central scheme. He pointed out that the state was distributing fine rice in bags that conspicuously lacked the photograph of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Making a significant demand, Rao insisted that the Prime Minister's photograph be made mandatory on all ration bags and receipts. He issued a warning, stating that the BJP would launch widespread protests if the Congress government failed to comply with this demand.
The accusations mark a significant escalation in the political rhetoric between the BJP and the ruling Congress in Telangana, setting the stage for a contentious run-up to the local body elections.
