Karnataka Congress to launch protest against Union government’s decision to stop FCI from selling food grains to States

The scheme was scheduled to start on 1 July.

What does Anna Bhagya scheme entail?

Anna Bhagya Scheme is one of the five poll guarantees the Congress had made during the run-up to the Karnataka Assembly polls in May.

The scheme envisaged providing 10 kgs of rice to all Below Poverty Line (BPL) and Antyodaya card holders.

The Karnataka government has approached Telangana, Chhattisgarh, and Punjab governments for rice. Telangana and Chhattisgarh governments have sought time whereas the Punjab government said it cannot provide the food grain due to inadequate stock.

Criticising the Union government’s move, Congress leaders termed it an “intentional” decision to hamper the implementation of the Anna Bhagya scheme in Karnataka.

Also read: FCI stopped from selling rice to states, dents Anna Bhagya in K’taka

BJP involving in hate politics: Shivakumar

“The BJP government at the Centre is indulging in hate politics by ensuring that the FCI does not supply the required amount of rice to implement the scheme,” Shivakumar said:

“It is their way of protesting against Karnataka’s poor for voting in favour of the Congress. The BJP is a party that betrays the poor,” he added.

ಕೆಪಿಸಿಸಿ ಕಚೇರಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಇಂದು ಸುದ್ದಿಗೋಷ್ಠಿ ಉದ್ದೇಶಿಸಿ ಮಾತನಾಡಿದೆ. ಬಿಪಿಎಲ್‌ ಕುಟುಂಬದ ಪ್ರತೀ ಸದಸ್ಯರಿಗೂ ತಲಾ 10 ಕೆಜಿ ಅಕ್ಕಿ ವಿತರಿಸುವ ಅನ್ನಭಾಗ್ಯ ಯೋಜನೆಗೆ ಉದ್ದೇಶಪೂರ್ವಕವಾಗಿ ಅಡ್ಡಿಪಡಿಸುತ್ತಿರುವ ಕೇಂದ್ರ ಸರ್ಕಾರದ ಧೋರಣೆ ವಿರುದ್ಧ ಜೂನ್‌ 20ರಂದು ಜಿಲ್ಲಾ ಕೇಂದ್ರಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರತಿಭಟನೆ ನಡೆಸಲು ನಿರ್ಧರಿಸಲಾಗಿದೆ. ಈ ಸಂಬಂಧ… pic.twitter.com/V0ya50uLoL

— DK Shivakumar (@DKShivakumar) June 16, 2023

Referring to the BJP national president JP Nadda’s statement during the poll campaign that the central schemes would be affected if the BJP was not voted back to power, Shivakumar congratulated him for standing by his words.

“The BJP is doing as they promised. The party’s national president had threatened that if BJP loses in the election, the central schemes will get affected in the state. He has kept his word.”

“This scheme is not only for those who voted for the Congress but for the people of Karnataka. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and everyone is working under a federal structure,” he reminded the BJP leaders.

Shivakumar said the Congress local leadership would organise the protests at 11 am on 20 June. “All MLAs and leaders from the district concerned will take part in the protest.”

Also read: Karnataka Congress revives Anna Bhagya as poll guarantee

Karnataka seeks rice from other states

Asserting the state government’s commitment to provide 10 kg of free rice to the poor, Shivakumar said, “We are in talks with rice-producing states such as Telangana, also Chhattisgarh, on the stocks available with them for procurement.”

“It is not difficult for us to procure from the open market, but we want to maintain transparency. The Telangana and Chhattisgarh governments have sought a day and we are also approaching other states,” he added.

“The Centre has rice stock of over seven lakh metric tonnes. We asked for about 2,28,000 metric tonnes. Despite having stock, it is not providing rice to us. We announced that free rice would be supplied from 1 July on the Food Corporation of India’s assurance,” he explained.

“We will arrange rice somehow and roll out the scheme. There may be a couple of days’ delay,” the DyCM hinted that the government would continue supplying 5 kgs of rice until they procure the required quantity of the food grain.

While announcing the protest, Shivakumar hoped for the support of the state’s 25 BJP MPs.

“I hope that MPs from the state, including 25 BJP parliamentarians, will come forward to help Karnataka. We will write to them to put pressure on the Union government in the interest of the state,” he added.

It may be noted that BJP leaders, including many MPs, have already criticised the Congress government for blaming the Union government.

Also read: K’taka to repeal amendments to anti-conversion law, APMC Act

Meeting with AICC leaders on 21 June

Meanwhile, on the invitation of All India Congress Committee (AICC) president Mallikarjun Kharge and former AICC chief Rahul Gandhi,  the party leaders, including Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar, would go to Delhi on 21 June.

“Siddaramaiah has sought an appointment with the prime minister on 21 June. He is likely to meet him. It will be his first meeting with the prime minister after taking oath as chief minister of Karnataka,” party sources said.

“Party president Kharge and Rahul Gandhi have invited us to Delhi on 21 June. It will be the first official meeting with the party’s central leadership after coming to power,” Shivakumar said.

He added that the leaders would discuss the implementation of the guarantees and other promises made in the party’s election manifesto.

Shivakumar also said that he has sought appointments with various Union Ministers to discuss the pending projects and other issues related to the state.

Several Cabinet ministers, including MB Patil, Dr MC Sudhakar, Priyank Kharge, and Zameer Ahmed Khan, too, might travel to the national capital on 21 June.