1. Rice wars: Congress workers protest against BJP-led Union government
The Congress staged demonstrations across all districts in Karnataka on June 20 against the BJP-led Union government for denying rice for the ‘Anna Bhagya’ scheme. Last week, the Food Corporation of India (FCI) had refused to provide 2.28 lakh tonnes of additional rice to Karnataka, which left the July 1 launch of the scheme — which promises 10 kg rice for each member of BPL families and Antyodaya card holders — hanging in balance.
Accusing the Centre of trying to “sabotage” the State government’s scheme by indulging in “politics of hate”, Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar had announced the party decision to protest. On Monday, Karnataka got some relief after the Punjab government agreed, in principle, to supply rice. The offer came after the AAP’s Karnataka unit intimated the State government that Punjab was willing to supply to Karnataka in the federal spirit.