Cloud over Anna Bhagya implementation as Karnataka struggles to procure rice

Speaking to reporters Sunday, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that only Chhattisgarh has promised to supply 1.5 lakh metric tonnes of rice. “We spoke to Andhra Pradesh. They have not assured supply. I spoke to Telangana CM who said it will not be possible (to supply rice),” he said.

The rice supplied from Chhattisgarh will cost more, he said. The higher rate is attributed to the transportation cost of grains from the state.

Last week, Siddaramaiah had accused the Narendra Modi-led Union government of ‘conspiring’ to scuttle the scheme and alleged that the Centre had stopped the FCI from selling rice to block the implementation of the Anna Bhagya scheme in Karnataka. The FCI had responded saying that the curbs on the sale of rice were aimed at regulating price rise.

Responding to a question on the Karnataka Chamber of Commerce and Industry calling for a one-day state bandh on June 22 to protest against an ‘abnormal price hike in electricity’, Siddaramaiah said that he would talk to them (to withdraw the bandh call).

“We have spoken to them. Power bills will be less from next month. To convince them, all information, (and) facts and figures are shared… Since dues of two previous months were included in the bill, they felt that it was high. It will be less from the coming month as bills will reflect power use of only one month,” the Karnataka CM added.