Centre Did Not Block Revanth Reddy’s Foreign Visit: Kishan Reddy

Union Minister and Telangana BJP leader Kishan Reddy said the Centre did not prevent Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy from undertaking his foreign visit, but only did not grant the required clearance. He said there had been occasions in the past when he too did not receive clearance for foreign visits, and therefore, this was not a new practice. Responding to the issue of photographs of the Chief Minister and minister being displayed on ration cards, Kishan Reddy said he had no objection to it. However, he pointed out that the concerned scheme is a Central government programme under which rice is supplied to Telangana, with a contribution from the Centre.

Kishan Reddy suggested that if the state government wants to provide fine rice to the poor, it should distribute it separately. He alleged that distributing rice under a Central scheme without displaying Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s photograph was politically motivated. He said the names of both the state and Central governments should be displayed. If the state government continues with the same approach, the Centre will take steps to distribute the rice directly, he said. Kishan Reddy also stated that the Centre could arrange for five kilograms of rice to be distributed through self-help groups.