The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) has slammed the Telangana government for printing the CM and Civil Supplies Minister's photos on new smart ration cards, calling it a waste of ₹100 crore.

Key Takeaways

  • BRS alleges violation of Supreme Court directions regarding political imagery on public documents.
  • The party claims approximately ₹100 crore has been spent on the new card issuance process.
  • A formal demand for a CAG audit has been made to investigate the expenditure.
  • The controversy highlights a perceived 'double standard' within the Congress party.

HYDERABAD: The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) has launched a scathing attack on the ruling Congress government, objecting to the issuance of new smart ration cards featuring the photographs of the Chief Minister and the Civil Supplies Minister. The party contends that this move violates established Supreme Court directives and represents a massive squandering of public resources.

Allegations of Financial Mismanagement

Official spokesperson and MLC Dasoju Sravan stated on Sunday that the state government has incurred an expenditure of nearly ₹100 crore. This amount covers cloud servers, specialized websites, printing, lamination, and logistics across 33 districts. BRS has formally demanded a comprehensive audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) to scrutinize the legality and necessity of this massive expenditure.

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The 'Double Standard' Argument

In a pointed critique, the BRS leader accused the Congress party of blatant hypocrisy. Sravan reminded the public that in 2021, Congress leaders, including Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, vehemently opposed the inclusion of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s photograph on COVID-19 vaccination certificates. He noted that political pressure from the Congress eventually forced the Election Commission to remove the PM's image in several states.

The BRS maintains that using public funds to print political portraits is a direct affront to democratic transparency.

Why This Matters

BozokMedia analysis shows that this controversy goes beyond mere aesthetics; it touches upon the core of electoral ethics and the accountability of government spending. If these cards are invalidated due to upcoming local body elections, the state faces a potential second round of massive, unnecessary expenditure.

Did You Know?: Former CM K. Chandrashekhar Rao had previously rejected proposals to include his own photo on official documents like pattadar passbooks to ensure public funds were used strictly for administration.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why is the BRS demanding a CAG audit?
They want to investigate the alleged ₹100 crore expenditure used for printing cards with political photographs.

2. What was the previous controversy mentioned?
The BRS cited Congress's past opposition to PM Modi's photo on COVID-19 certificates to highlight hypocrisy.