Pawan Kalyan Visits Kakinada Port, Slams Officials Over PDS Rice Smuggling
Amaravati, Nov 29: Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan expressed his strong disapproval over the ongoing smuggling of rice meant for the Public Distribution System (PDS) during a visit to Kakinada Port on Friday. Accompanied by Civil Supplies Minister Nandendla Manohar, Pawan Kalyan visited the port to investigate the illegal export of 640 tonnes of PDS rice that was seized earlier this week, as it was being shipped to West Africa.
Speaking to port officials and local representatives, Pawan Kalyan criticized the lack of accountability at the port, claiming that a scam from the previous regime was continuing unchecked. He called out the port authorities and local MLA Vanamadi Venkateswara Rao (TDP) for their failure to stop the illegal activity, accusing them of negligence.
Pawan Kalyan took to social media to express his anger, posting, “I came to Kakinada port to check the smuggling of PDS rice. A scam that became rampant in the last regime was continuing. This port looks like free for all. No accountability.”
The Deputy Chief Minister, who holds several key portfolios including Panchayat Raj, Rural Development, and Science & Technology, has repeatedly intervened in issues outside his immediate responsibilities. His public reprimanding of the TDP MLA marks the second time Pawan Kalyan has openly criticized a member of his ally party in recent weeks. In early November, he had also publicly warned Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha over rising crimes against women and children.
During the visit, Civil Supplies Minister Nandendla Manohar assured the media that action would be taken against officials involved in the illegal rice export, with several PDS rice consignments stored in mills and warehouses already being seized.
Pawan Kalyan also took the opportunity to direct an inquiry into alleged irregularities involving land acquisitions by a company linked to former Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, further intensifying his scrutiny of the current administration’s practices.
