Siddaramaiah calls up KCR, seeks rice stocks for Anna Bhagya guarantee scheme

Hyderabad: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah called his Telangana counterpart K. Chandrashekar Rao seeking rice stocks to launch the Anna Bhagya guarantee scheme, under which the newly-formed Congress government in Karnataka has promised to distribute 10 kg of rice for free for every BPL family.

This was disclosed by Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao while addressing party leaders and workers after inaugurating the BRS office in Nagpur in Maharashtra.

"He asked me finalise the price. Negotiations are going on. The modalities will be worked out," Rao said.

Siddaramaiah's phone call came a day after Centre stopped the sale of wheat and rice to states under the Open Market Sale Scheme (OMSS). The Karnataka CM alleged that it was a conspiracy to stop them from implementing the ‘Anna Bhagya.

Telangana civil supplies officials stated that Telangana will not be affected by Centre's decision. They said Telangana had abundant rice stocks to meet its PDS needs and does not purchase rice from the FCI.