The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : APCC chief rejects free rice offer

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Apr 12, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

APCC chief rejects free rice offer

Appeals to Congress leaders not to debilitate existing PDS

Party’s frontal organisation heads told to revamp outfits, enrol more members
Leaders told to be on the field, not in party headquarters

HYDERABAD: Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee president D. Srinivas has denounced the offer made by several ruling party leaders to offer rice free of cost to the white ration cardholders following the launch of Rs. 2-kg rice scheme in the State.

“The free rice offer will only destabilise the established public distribution system,” Mr. Srinivas said replying to a query at a press conference here on Friday. He said the good intentions of the Government to provide relief to the needy in the times of spiralling prices should not become an event to garner publicity for individuals.

“If these leaders have so much concern about the people, they should buy rice in the open market and distribute it free to show their philanthropy,” he said pointing out that the Government had already taken serious note of this development. He appealed to the leaders not to debilitate the existing PDS.

On the interest evinced by NTR Telugu Desam Party president Lakshmi Parvati to join the Congress, Mr. Srinivas said he had also seen reports in the media.

Enrolment mooted

Earlier, Mr. Srinivas reviewed the functioning of the party’s frontal organisations, cells and departments at Gandhi Bhavan .

He called upon the heads of these outfits to revamp the set up and take necessary steps to enrol more members. He said that the heads of the organisations should take care not to appoint people, who were angling for Assembly tickets. “Let these aspirants work in their respective constituencies rather than hankering for posts,” he observed.

He made it clear to the leaders that they should work in the field instead of hanging around in the party headquarters. “Anybody who stays put in the party office will be treated as failing to discharge his or her duties,” he remarked.

AP Mahila Congress chief Ganga Bhavani, NSUI president Ch Vamsi Chand Reddy, Seva Dal chairman K. Janardhan Reddy and heads of minorities, weaker sections cells and departments attended.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Andhra Pradesh

News Update

Stories in this Section