Modi govt sabotaging Anna Bhagya scheme in Karnataka: Congress
The Congress on Sunday alleged that the Centre is “sabotaging” its Anna Bhagya guarantee in Karnataka and asserted that the 10 kg free rice scheme of its state government would be implemented at the earliest, “come what may”.
The Opposition party also asked why is that the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana is not a revdi (freebie), whereas the Congress guarantee of 10 kg free rice through the Anna Bhagya 2.0 scheme is “vilified and sabotaged”. In a statement, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh alleged that it is nothing but Karnataka’s “durbhagya” (misfortune) that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is “punishing the poor of the state for voting to secure their future”.
Also read: Anna Bhagya Scheme rollout hangs in balance as Karnataka scrambles for rice
‘Karnataka targeted’
From January 1, 2023 till May 24, 2023, the BJP-led state government in Karnataka alone lifted more than 95 per cent of the rice procured by all state governments under the Open Market Sale Scheme (Domestic) at a rate of Rs 3,400 per quintal, presumably with “Modiji’s ashirwaad”, Ramesh said. “Once, the Congress government was formed in Karnataka, as threatened by BJP president JP Nadda, this ashirwaad has been withdrawn at break-neck speed,” he alleged.
Ramesh argued that regardless of claims otherwise made by the Modi government, it is now “absolutely clear” that the order of June 13 by the Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Food Distribution discontinuing Open Market Sale Scheme for states was primarily targeted at Karnataka that procured more than 95 per cent of all rice bought by state governments under the scheme this year.
“Actually, the Food Corporation of India (FCI) had issued orders for sale of rice under OMSS (D) on June 12, 2023, based on the requests of the Congress-led state government in Karnataka made on June 6, 2023 and June 9, 2023. Yet a day later, the Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Food Distribution discontinued the OMSS (D) for states,” he said.
Also read: Anna Bhagya Scheme: After Chhattisgarh, Punjab offers to provide rice to Karnataka
‘Sabotage evident’
“Clearly, this was targeted at sabotaging the implementation of the Anna Bhagya 2.0 scheme guaranteed by the Congress to the people of Karnataka,” Ramesh alleged. The FCI general manager Karnataka immediately withdrew the earlier order of sale of rice on June 12, he said
“Not only that, the Chairman and Managing Director of Food Corporation of India (FCI) in a press conference on June 23, 2023 said that conditions will be placed such that private traders cannot sell to another state. Isn’t this a clear case of sabotage,” Ramesh asked
The fact is that the FCI has more than enough stocks to meet Karnataka’s and the country’s needs but the Modi government is trying its very best to close every single avenue for the Karnataka government to fulfill its guarantee to the people of Karnataka, he alleged.
(With agency inputs)
