Bengaluru: Calling the central government anti-poor, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday accused it for discontinuing supply of rice to states under the open market scheme, affecting Annabhagya Yojana, a flagship scheme to provide 10 kg of free rice to people.
“Our officers spoke to FCI, and stated that they have enough stocks and promised to give every month. I also called FCI Deputy General Manager and agreed to give it every month. But yesterday, the central government wrote a letter to FCI stating that the sale of meat and rice to state governments is discontinued under open market sales,” he told reporters in a press conference here.
Siddaramaiah said that this scheme is still being implemented in North-Eastern states.
“In fact, the central government is creating hurdles to the state government’s promise to give 10 kg rice to the poor people of Karnataka. So, what is the intention of the central government? It shows they are anti-poor,” he said.
However, the state government would implement the Anna Bhagya scheme and would try to procure rice from Chhattisgarh and Telangana states, Siddaramaiah said.
The scheme is scheduled for July 1 launch across the state.
