Accept New Ration Cards Applications: Congress To KCR

Official TPCC spokesperson G Niranjan today urged the Telangana government to allow new applications for ration cards.

In a letter addressed to Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, a copy of which was released to the media, Niranjan said that though the Congress welcomed the state Cabinet's decision to grant ration cards to 4,46,169 eligible applicants whose applications had been pending approval for a long period, the party wanted to also urge the government to provide those without cards with an opportunity to fill fresh applications for the same as "thousands of households" did not have ration cards and were, therefore, being "forced to purchase expensive rations in the open market".

He claimed that many beneficiaries had been excluded from receiving ration benefits "irrationally", and appealed to the government to instruct the concerned officials to enquire into the matter and to include the excluded persons as beneficiaries as well.

"Though priority should be given to people belonging to the BPL group in providing ration, the current pandemic has proved that in the future it may be necessary to also take care of other sections of society irrespective of their economic position during emergency situations. The government should, therefore, consider providing ration cards to all the people of the state to prepare them to face future challenges. We request that the CM give his immediate attention to this matter and make a decision," the leader said.