Leaders and workers of Congress staged protests in Hassan and Shivamogga, on Tuesday, June 20, against the Centre, demanding rice to fulfil the party’s promise of providing 10 kg to people below the poverty line in Karnataka.
The protesters took serious exception to the Central government’s refusal to offer rice and termed the move politically motivated and intended to defame the Congress government in Karnataka.
K.M. Shivalinge Gowda, Arasikere MLA, who led the protest in Hassan, alleged that the Food Corporation of India had assured the State that it would provide the required quantity of rice. However, within a couple of days, it changed its position. “It must have come under political pressure from the Central government to change its stand. The distribution of rice has been in practice since the Congress-led UPA government, under the leadership of Dr. Manmohan Singh, introduced the Food Security Act. Now, the BJP is trying to take credit for rice distribution,” he said.
