Centre Controls Urea Distribution: Ponnam

KARIMNAGAR: Backward class welfare minister Ponnam Prabhakar came down heavily on BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao for his recent remarks on urea shortage and the Vice-Presidential candidate. He alleged that Rama Rao was using “third-rate language” while speaking to the media at a press meet held at the Congress office in Karimnagar.

Prabhakar said that Rama Rao, having served as a minister for 10 years, should know that the supply of urea is controlled by the Central government and not the state. He accused the BRS and BJP of deliberately spreading misinformation and creating an artificial shortage to defame the Congress government.

He clarified that while the state government is responsible for seeds and power supply, the distribution of fertilisers falls under the purview of the Centre. He urged all political parties, including the BRS, to work together to pressure the Union government for a smooth supply of fertilisers to farmers.

Speaking on the Vice-Presidential election, the minister said the I.N.D.I.A. Bloc has nominated former High Court and Supreme Court judge Sudarshan Reddy, a son of Telangana from a poor agricultural family with vast constitutional expertise. He said it is now for the BRS to decide whether to support a son of Telangana or align with the NDA candidate.

Prabhakar reiterated that the Congress government is committed to welfare and development, citing schemes such as free bus services for women, free electricity up to 200 units, and the issuance of new ration cards. In contrast, he accused the BRS of spreading panic among farmers and deriving “demonic pleasure” from creating fear.

He further alleged that the previous BRS government neglected the development of Karimnagar district and the state’s universities over the past decade, while the Congress government has already established new institutions, including a law college and an engineering college, in the district.

On the Kaleshwaram project, Prabhakar said the question of lifting a second TMC of water never arose, and demanded that the BRS explain to the people why it initiated works for a third TMC.