Centre playing ‘dirty politics’ over rice supply: K'taka CM

New Delhi: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah accused the Centre of playing dirty politics over denying the supply of rice and wheat to the state through the Food Corporation of India (FCI).

He said that he would flag the issue regarding the supply of rice to the state for its 'Anna Bhagya' scheme, which provides an additional 5 kg of rice for each member of BPL families, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Karnataka Chief Minister, who is on a visit to Delhi, has met President Droupadi Murmu and also called on Home Minister Shah. He also had a meeting with Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge.

According to Siddaramaiah, FCI had initially accepted the Karnataka government's request to provide the rice but later turned down the request. Siddaramaiah also said that FCI officials told him that they "have sufficient quantity of rice" to fulfill the request.

The Karnataka Chief Minister claimed that the request was turned down by the FCI after the Union Food Ministry and the Consumer Supply Ministry had "written letters to the Chairman and MD of the FCI to stop the supply of rice and wheat to the state".

The Chief Minister said: "... what does this indicate? They have a sufficient quantity of rice and they also agreed to supply through their letter. And the Government of India played dirty politics, hate politics, isn't it?"

With inputs from IANS