Bandi Sanjay Questions Photos of CM, Minister on Telangana Ration Cards

Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar has questioned the Telangana government’s decision to print the photographs of Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and Civil Supplies Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy on the newly issued smart PDS ration cards.

Speaking to reporters in Hyderabad on Saturday, Bandi Sanjay alleged that the state government was spending around ₹600 crore on the smart ration cards. He questioned the rationale behind featuring the photographs of political leaders, arguing that neither the Chief Minister nor the minister would hold their positions permanently.

He also asked why Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s photograph was not included on the cards when the Centre provides rice and financial support for the public distribution system in Telangana. According to him, the Modi government is providing rice for around 57 lakh ration cards in the state.

Bandi Sanjay cited the example of neighbouring Karnataka, claiming that ration cards issued under the previous Congress government carried the photograph of then Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and later became unusable after he left office.

The Union minister also spoke about the controversy surrounding Vande Mataram. Referring to an earlier Assembly incident in which AIMIM members allegedly walked out while the song was being sung, he said he would organise a Vande Mataram programme with one lakh people near the Bhagyalakshmi Temple at Charminar. He challenged AIMIM leaders to prevent the event.

Bandi Sanjay further alleged that the Congress government was no different from the previous BRS regime, accusing it of failing to fulfil several election promises. He specifically cited financial assistance for unemployed youth and fee reimbursement for students as commitments that, according to him, had not been implemented.

His remarks came on the same day that Chief Minister Revanth Reddy launched the distribution of smart PDS ration cards in Sangareddy.