Probe sought in rice smuggling

Nellore, Oct 16: YSRCP has demanded a thorough inquiry into the export of PDS rice by mafia and affirmed that it will fight it out along with medical college privatization, spurious liquor and other issues.

Speaking to media here, former Minister Kakani Govardhan Reddy said rice mafia has been active in Nellore district and the issue was blown out by NUDA chief which has stirred hormet's nest which shows that the syndicate has deep roots.

Local Minister Narayana and concerned Minister Nadendla Manohar have in touch and some of remarks were not in good taste.

The objection was raised and to hush up people in high places had send signals not wash dirty linen in public.

Smuggling and export of PDS rice has been rampant in the district and officials are working in tandem with the mafia.
Out of the 11,000 tons of PDS rice 9,000 tons is being smuggled by the mafia.
The rive is being sent for polishing and then sent to ports for export.

The issue is being pushed up and came to light when local ruling party leader spilled the beans and bigwigs coming in to warn cadre not to fight in the open.

The rift of coalition also came to the fore and Minister Narayana and Nadendla trying to patch things up but the signals went awry.

We will fight it out against the smuggling of ration rice along with other issues, he said.