Harish Rao Flags 25% Rise in Fine Rice Prices, Questions Government

BRS leader and former minister Harish Rao criticised the government over the rising prices of essential commodities, alleging that its failure to monitor and regulate the market was leaving ordinary people to bear the burden. He said the government’s alleged negligence in controlling prices and monitoring markets was adding to the financial pressure on households. Fine rice prices have risen by up to 25 per cent in just four months, he said, questioning why prices were increasing despite the government claiming record agricultural production.

Harish Rao questioned how rice prices could continue to climb when the state was reporting higher crop output. He said the latest market trends also indicated a significant rise in the prices of fine rice over the past four months. The increase, he argued, had raised questions over the effectiveness of the government’s measures to keep essential commodities affordable.

On the government’s fine rice scheme, Harish Rao asked why market prices were not coming under control if the programme was achieving its stated objectives. He also alleged that consumers were dissatisfied with the quality of the fine rice being supplied through government channels. According to him, the continued rise in open-market prices further highlighted the problems surrounding the scheme.

He also raised concerns over the gap between what farmers earn and what consumers pay. Harish Rao alleged that farmers who spend months cultivating their crops were receiving only nominal returns under the Minimum Support Price (MSP) system, while middlemen were making profits of more than Rs 8,000 per quintal. He questioned why farmers were not receiving remunerative prices while consumers were simultaneously being forced to pay more.

The former minister said the pressure on household budgets was extending beyond rice. He cited prices of Rs 70 per kg for onions, Rs 240 for garlic, Rs 210 for groundnut oil, Rs 125 for green gram and Rs 165 for red gram. Such increases, he said, were making it increasingly difficult for ordinary families to manage their kitchen expenses.

Harish Rao demanded immediate inspections to check black marketing, illegal hoarding, artificial shortages and excessive profit margins. He urged the Centre and the state government to take coordinated steps to contain the prices of fine rice and other essential commodities. He also called for stronger monitoring by the Telangana Civil Supplies Department, which is responsible for overseeing essential commodity prices and taking measures against abnormal market trends.