The Congress party has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of discontinuing the Open Market Sale Scheme (Domestic) for states, thus sabotaging Anna Bhagya 2.0 in the state of Karnataka. This decision by the BJP, according to Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, has deprived poor people in Karnataka of their basic entitlement of free rice. He further argued that the Modi government has targeted Karnataka by discontinuing OMSS(D) through an order issued by the Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Food Distribution on June 13.
The Congress-led state government in Karnataka had requested the sale of rice on June 6 and June 9, but the Union Ministry discontinued OMSS(D) a day later, mainly targeting the state of Karnataka. Jairam Ramesh alleges this move is a clear case of sabotage on the part of the Modi government.
This decision affects the additional entitlement of 5 kgs of free rice given to 39 lakh BPL (Below Poverty Line) beneficiaries by the Karnataka state government, beyond what is already allocated by the Union government under the National Food Security Act. The Congress party claims that Modi is punishing the poor of Karnataka, who voted to secure their future.
Jairam Ramesh criticized the Modi government for its decision to continue rice allocation and lifting stocks from the FCI’s central pool for ethanol production and blending at the rate of Rs 2,000 per quintal despite claiming that rice stocks have depleted. The Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana, which provides free food to 80 crore people, came to the rescue of poor people during the Covid-19 pandemic. Jairam Ramesh pointed out that this would not have been possible without the architecture of the National Food Security Act and the Public Distribution System implemented by the Congress-led UPA government.
Karnataka’s Congress government will do all it can to ensure the rights of its citizens are protected, and the Guarantee of Anna Bhagya 2.0, which provides 10 kgs of free rice, is implemented. Jairam Ramesh emphasized that, despite the Modi government’s decision, the Congress party would work tirelessly to make sure that the poor in Karnataka receive the benefits they are entitled to.
