Joshi says state not willing to buy rice from Centre for Anna Bhagya
Karnataka’s rice crisis has intensified with Union Minister Pralhad Joshi accusing the state of refusing to buy rice from the central government. Despite past criticisms of hoarding, the Union government recently offered surplus rice. State leaders, including Congress MLA Roopkala Shashidhar, argue this offer is too late, as the state struggled with rice shortages and resorted to cash transfers.
BENGALURU: The 16-month rice crisis between the state and the central governments has taken a dramatic turn. After enduring months of public embarrassment for dishing out cash instead of subsidised rice to Below Poverty Line (BPL) card holders due to an alleged shortage of the foodgrain, the Union government has unleashed a counterattack. Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Pralhad Joshi hit back at the state government, saying, “They aren’t even prepared to buy rice from us.”
His statement comes just months after state leaders lambasted the Union government for hoarding rice and selling it at Rs 29 per kg to allegedly woo voters during the general elections. State Congress leaders had blamed central ministers and BJP’s then 25 MPs from Karnataka for not doing enough to get the required quantity of rice. Now, Joshi’s broadside has left the state government scrambling to explain itself in a political standoff.
In an exclusive interaction with The New Indian Express, Joshi said, “I said over a month ago that the Union government is ready to sell Karnataka all the rice it needs under the Open Market Sale Scheme at Rs 28 per kg. This scheme is available to all states. This was conveyed to the state, and even the chief secretary knows it. Food Minister Muniyappa came to see me, but the state decided to continue cash transfers instead of buying rice.”
Congress MLA Roopkala Shashidhar, daughter of food minister KH Muniyappa, asked “Why now?” She said, “When we desperately needed rice, CM Siddaramaiah personally pleaded with them last year, but they turned their back. We had no choice but to hand out cash. No one should politicise schemes meant for the poor.”
A national foodgrain procurement expert told TNIE, “The Centre now has surplus rice and is using it for ethanol production too.” This revelation raises eyebrows and questions the Union government’s priorities during the height of the crisis. The expert added that last year, there was a shortage of rice with the centre and this year, there is excess stock.
Political analysts said, “The Union government’s failure to provide rice when Karnataka was in dire need is etched in public memory. Now, this sudden offer of extra rice looks like damage control.’’
The state government pays cash instead of 5 kg rice to BPL card holders under its Anna Bhagya scheme, as it could not source required quantities of rice. The state government is expected to resume distribution of the full quantity of rice from October. The state government need not buy rice now as it can be done just four to five days before distribution. The stock is lying at Food Corporation of India godowns now.
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