Veerraju slams state for failure to control illegal export of PDS rice

VIJAYAWADA: AP BJP chief Somu Veerraju has slammed the state government for its “failure” to control illegal export of rice that was originally meant for the state’s public distribution system, to markets abroad.

Taking part in a programme in Guntur on Monday, at which nearly 150 minority leaders from several political parties joined the BJP, Veerraju said though Prime Minister Narendra Modi had asked the state governments to provide good quality rice to the poor free of cost, AP was witnessing scam in the distribution and export of PDS rice.

This involved a scam of Rs 5,000 crore every year, the BJP leader alleged.
Veerraju also alleged that huge quantities of sand from Krishna river were being illegally mined and sold. “This is done even by laying a road across the river at Amaravati, in violation of rules set by the National Green Tribunal. When BJP leaders tried to stop such illegal practices, they were attacked. The police are not booking cases against those who attacked our leaders,” he said.

He also said YSRC leaders are clandestinely collecting and selling fly ash from the thermal power station in the city. The local people used to collect and sell this since 1985, but YSRC men laid their hands on it soon after their government assumed power in the state, he said.

Veerraju hinted that a big industrialist from Guntur would join the BJP soon. He reiterated that both BJP and Jana Sena would contest the next general election as part of the NDA alliance.