Bengaluru: The Congress has decided to stage a protest against the Centre’s decision to deny rice to Karnataka under the Open Market Sale Scheme Domestic (OMSSD) to the state to implement Anna Bhagya scheme.
The Congress protest will be staged at all district headquarters on June 20, Karnataka Congress President DK Shivakumar told reporters here.
The Siddaramaiah government had sought rice from Food Corporation of India to fulfill its promise of implementing Anna Bhagya scheme, which assured 10 kg free foodgrains to people having Below Poverty Line (BPL) cards.
“The state government wrote to FCI to provide rice to Karnataka at the market price. On June 12, the corporation wrote back saying 2.8 lakh metric tonnes can be given at 3,400 per quintal, and it can be lifted within seven days.
“On June 13, however, the FCI wrote to us informing us that the sale of wheat and rice under OMSSD has been discontinued. This shows that the BJP is doing hate politics. BJP is a party of people who cheat the poor. We have decided to stage a protest in all district headquarters against the Centre,” Shivakumar added.
The Deputy Chief Minister said the government would procure the cereal from rice-growing states to implement the Anna Bhagya scheme.
The government had announced plans to implement the scheme by July 1.
