Addressing a public gathering in Dharur, Vikarabad district, the minister questioned the current distribution model, pointing out a significant mismatch in ration card data.
“The state has about 1.10 crore families, but there are 1.25 crore ration cards. Shouldn’t we ensure that only the truly poor benefit? Free rice should go only to those who genuinely cannot afford food. When NT Rama Rao was CM, rice was sold for ₹3 and the government gave it at ₹2 — people hailed him as a god. But today, should rice costing ₹60 be distributed free of cost?” he asked.
He challenged locals to show even 10 to 20 people in the village without ration cards, questioning whether the entire village could really be classified as poor.
His remarks reportedly caused unease among fellow dignitaries at the event, including
Telangana Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar, putting them in an uncomfortable position politically.
The opposition Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) quickly pounced on it, accusing the Congress-led government of using such rhetoric to dodge its election commitments. BRS spokesperson Manne Krishank, speaking to News18, said, “The Congress made 420 promises before coming to power. Now, it’s backtracking. Not a single new ration card has been issued. The farm loan waiver hasn’t reached farmers. Under the Rythu Bharosa scheme, they promised ₹ 15,000 per acre but reduced it to ₹12,000, and even that hasn’t been paid. There’s no sign of farmer insurance either.”
Tummala, who served earlier in KCR’s cabinet as Roads and Buildings Minister, had previously stated that 24-hour free electricity for agriculture was not essential and claimed that even farmers didn’t want it.
Meanwhile, many of the welfare and development programs promised by the Congress during the elections are yet to see full-scale implementation. Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has maintained that the rollout will happen in phases. However, he has also openly admitted in the Assembly that Telangana is grappling with a financial crunch, to the extent of depending on the RBI to pay salaries.
Salary revisions, DA payments, and other employee benefits remain pending. Discontent among government employees and RTC workers is growing, with unions threatening strikes over unmet demands.
In this context, Minister Tummala’s remarks have sparked fresh concerns over the government’s intent and capacity to honour its commitments, raising tough questions about the future of welfare in Telangana
