The Centre on Friday, June 23, categorically refused to supply rice to Karnataka for its flagship Anna Bhagya scheme. This makes it certain that the launch of the scheme, which was scheduled for July 1, will be delayed. The Centre’s decision was conveyed to Karnataka’s Food and Civil Supplies Minister K.H. Muniyappa by Union Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Piyush Goyal in Delhi.
‘FCI has enough rice’
“The Union Government, worried about the scheme that is likely to become popular, has played politics by denying us the rice. They have sufficient quantity of rice that will remain after completing their supplies under the PDS for all the States. We are disappointed at this attitude,” Mr. Muniyappa told The Hindu over phone from Delhi. While he had returned to Bengaluru on Thursday morning, he had to head back to Delhi after Mr. Goyal gave him an appointment for Friday morning.
