Finance Minister summons bureaucrat for failing to answer a question

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman summoned Kamareddy district collector Jitesh Patil on Friday after the latter failed to respond to a question on the Centre’s and the state’s share of rice provided through fair pricing shops. Ms Sitharaman, who was attending various programmes in the Zaheerabad Parliamentary Constituency as part of the BJP’s ‘Lok Sabha […]

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman summoned Kamareddy district collector Jitesh Patil on Friday after the latter failed to respond to a question on the Centre’s and the state’s share of rice provided through fair pricing shops.


Ms Sitharaman, who was attending various programmes in the Zaheerabad Parliamentary Constituency as part of the BJP’s ‘Lok Sabha Pravas Yojana,’ also asked Collector Jitesh Patil why the picture of Prime Minister Narendra Modi was missing at the Birkur shop, given that the Centre bears a lion’s share of the subsidised rice sold at 1 in the state to beneficiaries.

“The rice, which sells for 35 in the open market, was provided to folks for 1 here. How much responsibility does the state government bear?” She inquired of the Collector.

She stated that the Centre is delivering the rice at PDS stores while bearing all costs, including logistics and storage, and that she was trying to find out whether or not the free rice was reaching the people.
Ms Sitharaman stated that the Centre bears about 30, the state government bears 4, and the beneficiaries bear Rs 1.

She emphasised that beginning in March-April 2020, the Centre has started distributing rice at a cost of Rs 30-Rs 35 at no expense to the state government or the recipients.

When the official was unable to answer the query, the Union minister instructed him to respond within 30 minutes.

“You consider it, and within half an hour, before my media appearance, you do it again (come up with an answer). So that I may tell them that even though the Collector could not instantly answer my query, he struggled and obtained the information, “She chastised.

She said that when a request was made previously to display photos of the Prime Minister at Telangana’s fair pricing stores, it was denied. She added that the BJP activists who came forward to put up the images were also barred from doing so.

“I’m telling you now. Our people will come here and raise the PM’s banner. As the district administrator, you will guarantee that it is not deleted. That it not be ripped, “She gave the Collector a heads-up.

“If there isn’t a banner here, I’ll come back,” she remarked.

The Modi administration is covering the full cost of 5 kg of free foodgrains under the Centre’s PM Garib Kalyan Yojana, according to the Union minister.

“The Modi government bears more than 80% of the cost of foodgrains under the NFSA. Is there any opposition to PM Modi’s poster/banner being shown at ration shops? Mrs. Nitharaman, “Her office issued a tweet.
Earlier, as the Finance Minister was on her way to Banswada, some Congress workers attempted to protest. The gang was dispersed after police interfered.

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