Union government creating hurdles in implementation of Anna Bhagya, alleges Dy CM

BENGALURU: Leading a protest against the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Union Government accusing it of causing hurdles in the way of implementation of ‘Anna Bhagya’ scheme in Karnataka, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Tuesday alleged that the Union Government was becoming a stumbling block in its launch, as part of which BPL and Antyodaya card holders will be getting 10 kg rice per head every month.

The Food Corporation of India discontinued sale of rice and wheat in Open Market Sale Scheme and after the discontinuance of sale of rice, the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah hit out at the Union Government accusing it of adopting ‘vengenace’ against the state government.

During the protest, Shivakumar also accused the Union government of trying to pit people against the state government over ‘Anna Bhagya’ scheme and stated that the Congress party is resolved to make Karnataka a ‘hunger-free state'.

He exuded confidence that the state government would purchase rice from other states in the country and distribute it to the Below Poverty Line and Antyodaya card holders as assured in the poll manifesto. The ‘Anna Bhagya’ scheme is set to be rolled out on July 1.

The state government is ready to distribute 5 kg of rice to BPL and Antyodaya card holders and it is striving hard to arrange another 5 kg of rice under the Anna Bhagya scheme, said Shivakumar, while addressing the protesters at the Freedom Park in Bengaluru.

Shivakumar called upon the people in Karnataka to teach the BJP a fitting lesson in ensuing Lok Sabha polls, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike and panchayats over its alleged ‘politics’ in sale of rice through the Food Corporation of India (FCI) and warned the Union government that the people's anguish would turn against them.

“Our ministers are in constant talks with other states over purchase of rice for the scheme,” he said and stated that they were not asking the Union government for rice free of cost. Even then, the attitude of the Union government has not changed.”

He suggested that the main opposition party, the BJP, to indulge in constructive criticism against the state government and wanted the BJP leaders too to stage a protest against the Union government for creating hurdles in the implementation of the ‘Anna Bhagya’ scheme.