India has ample food stocks, says Union Minister Pralhad Joshi
Hubballi (Karnataka), May 12 (PTI): Allaying fears of shortage of essential commodities, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi on Monday said the country has ample food stocks and warned against hoarding, black marketing and creating artificial shortages.
He also urged people not to panic or rush to the markets to purchase food grains, due to rumours in the wake of the military conflict between India and Pakistan.
"We have an abundant quantity of food grains. We have a buffer stock sufficient for a minimum of 1 to 1.5 years. We have given instructions to states from our department to take strict action against hoarding and black marketing. We have given clear warning against creating artificial scarcity," the Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution said.
Speaking to reporters here, he said there are enough quantities of pulses and cooking oil, and there is no need for people to create rush for any reason, as there is a big system in place.
"Our production of rice, wheat and other food grains is huge, so there is no need for anyone to worry. If anyone indulges in practices like black marketing, the state governments should take strict action," he added.
Noting that currently a "ceasefire" is in place between India and Pakistan, the union minister said, it has been made clear that India will treat any future act of terror on its soil as an "act of war" and to respond accordingly.
"We will not consider terrorism as an isolated activity and it will be considered as an act of war," he added.
Pointing out that the central government has called all party meetings at every level following the Pahalgam terror attack and information has been shared with opposition parties from time to time, Joshi said the Parliamentary Affairs Ministry will be able to say on the demand for a special parliament session and other things.
He further stated that during the operation in the last three to four days, the Indian armed forces have given a major blow to terrorism infrastructure, terrorists, terror hideouts and training camps, and their supporters.
Regarding the opposition's criticism over the USA's mediation for the ceasefire announcement, the union minister said the Government of India had already made a statement in this regard, and has stated clearly that the understanding was following a call from the Pakistan's Director General Military Operation (DGMO) to India's DGMO, and there were certain preconditions.
"No senior ministers in the central government have made any political statement in contact with the current situation. I appeal to the opposition, the country should remain united," he added.
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Centre spent Rs 76.13 lakh on print media ads for RSS centenary, reveals RTI
New Delhi: The Union Ministry of Culture allegedly spent Rs 76.13 lakh on print advertisements marking the 100-year celebrations of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), according to a Right to Information (RTI) reply.
The information was sought by RTI activist Ajay Basudev Bose, who filed an application seeking details on expenditure incurred by the ministry for advertisements commemorating the RSS centenary.
Bose shared a picture of the reply from the ministry on his official ‘X’ handle.
“It is informed that an amount of Rs 76,13,129 has been spent on advertisement given in various print media by the Ministry of Culture on the occasion of the completion of 100 years of RSS,” the government’s reply stated.
RTI reply shows Min of Culture Govt of India spent a Whopping Rs 76L,13K,129 on Advertisement in Print Media on occasion of 100 yrs of #RSS
— AJAY Basudev Bose (@AjayBos93388306) April 16, 2026
When Everyone knows RSS is Not Registered & Does not Pay any Tax is it justified to spend Tax Payers Money on such Private event??@RSSorg… pic.twitter.com/dW4IUtdNCg
Bose questioned the expenditure in the post X, “when Everyone knows RSS is Not Registered & Does not Pay any Tax is it justified to spend Tax Payers Money on such Private event??”
Reacting to the development, Karnataka’s IT-BT and Panchayat Raj Minister Priyank Kharge also criticised the spending.
In a post on X, he asked why public money was being used for what he described as a “private ideological project.”
"Modi Sarkar spent Rs 76,13,129 of public money on newspaper advertisements to celebrate 100 years of the RSS. Why is Government spending taxpayers money on an unregistered, non-tax-paying organisation to celebrate their centenary?," he added.
Why is public money being used to serve a private ideological project?
— Priyank Kharge / ಪ್ರಿಯಾಂಕ್ ಖರ್ಗೆ (@PriyankKharge) April 16, 2026
Modi Sarkar spent ₹76,13,129 of public money on newspaper advertisements to celebrate 100 years of the RSS.
Why is Government spending taxpayers money on an unregistered, non-tax-paying organisation to… pic.twitter.com/EoZ6Pim3IM
According to reports, the RSS describes itself as a volunteer-based organisation and has stated that it functions as a body of individuals rather than a registered entity.
Founded by Keshav Baliram Hedgewar in 1925, the organisation is marking its centenary year beginning from Vijaydashami in 2025, with the milestone observed on October 2.
