Congress Accuses Centre of Disrupting Karnataka's Rice Scheme

The Congress party accused the central government of halting rice sales to states under the Open Market Sale Scheme to disrupt Karnataka’s Anna Bhagya Scheme. The Centre has now decided to resume rice sales, allowing states to directly purchase from the Food Corporation of India at Rs 2,800 per quintal.

The Congress alleged on Friday that the Centre halted rice sales to states under the Open Market Sale Scheme (OMSS) to disrupt Karnataka's Anna Bhagya Scheme. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'vendetta politics' has forced the government to resume rice sales, says Congress.

Union Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi clarified that states can now directly buy rice from the Food Corporation of India (FCI) at Rs 2,800 per quintal, bypassing the e-auction process, to support their welfare schemes.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh criticized the Modi government for a policy aimed at undermining Karnataka's efforts to double rice entitlements under the National Food Security Act. The Centre had initially halted rice sales in June 2023, citing poor monsoons and high prices but stored a surplus of 50 million tonnes.