DKS: BJP 'double standards' on Anna Bhagya

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Saturday lambasted the BJP for adopting “double standards” in connection with the implementation of the Anna Bhagya scheme.

The comments come in the backdrop of former CM Basavaraj Bommai dubbing as insufficient the State government’s move to compensate for the lack of rice under the scheme with cash for beneficiaries. The controversy erupted on June 9 when the Congress government wrote to Food Corporation of India (FCI) requesting 13,819.485 metric tonnes (MT) of rice.

The subsequent reply came on June 12 approving the same. However, the Centre on June 13 wrote to FCI ordering them to stop the sale of grains to states under Open Market Sale Scheme (OMMS Domestic). Some cited the reason that if the monsoon falters, FCI would need additional rice to distribute to states and open markets to manage the prices.

Since then Congress has had to look to buy rice from other states at higher prices and Chhattisgarh was one of the states that had agreed to supply grain. Citing the inability to disburse enough rice, CM Siddaramaiah had announced that he would compensate with cash. “You can see their double standard,” Shivakumar said.

Reacting to the threat of protests by the BJP “inside and outside” the two Houses, he said: “I’m happy to see it (them protesting). We won’t wait for them. Let them protest. You must first protest against your own non-fulfillment of promises, including those in the manifesto. At least, they are spreading the word about our schemes.

People have understood their intentions. They see us trying our best. They also see how the Centre is treating the poor, depriving them of rice. The grain in FCI godowns is rotting. They are okay with that but won’t make Congress look good by giving us the rice that we need. They simply don’t care. We will see to our promises. We have long and short term plans. We need a continuous supply of rice and we are encouraging local growers to contribute rice as well.”

The Deputy CM tried to downplay the water dispute with Tamil Nadu, pointing out that people from the neighbouring state work in Karnataka and vice versa. “We are like brothers,” he said.