New Delhi: The Congress on Friday alleged "revenge politics" by the Modi government for refusing to sell adequate rice to implement the "Anna Bhagya Guarantee" in Karnataka last year and asked if it would apologize to the people for "obstructing" if the elected state government implements its plans.
Congress general secretary communications officer Jairam Ramesh said evidence has emerged to show that Narendra Modi's "revenge-driven" decision not only deprived the people of Karnataka of an additional 5 kg of rice through the " Anna Bhagya Guarantee", but also increased India's food subsidy bill runs into tens of billions of rupees.
He alleged that the prime minister's "revenge politics", aimed at obstructing Congress and non-BJP state governments in implementing their programmes, has corroded India's federal system and cost Indian taxpayers. .
"On June 13, 2023, the Modi government stopped selling rice to state governments under the Open Market Sales Scheme (National), revoking the Food Corporation of India's orders to Karnataka issued the previous day" Ramesh said in a statement.
"This irrational policy was carried out with the sole intention of disrupting the Anna Bhagya Scheme of the Karnataka government, which doubles the quota of rice available to every individual entitled to foodgrains under the National Food Security Act (2013)" , he stated.
Since the Modi government refused to sell the state adequate rice to implement the plan, it was only the determination and proactivity of the Karnataka government that allowed it to continue with the plan, through a cash transfer of Rs 170 per month so that each eligible beneficiary could pay for it. expenses to buy 5 kg of rice, Ramesh said.
"The claims made by the Modi government last year (about depletion of rice stocks due to bad monsoon and high prices) to justify its discontinuation of rice sale through the WHOS(D) scheme were blatantly false ", he claimed.
In fact, as a media report revealed, the government is stockpiling 50 million tonnes of rice, three times the required stock of 13.54 million tonnes, he claimed.
"It costs the FCI Rs 3,975 to purchase, transport and store a quintal (100 kg) of rice. With the budget around the corner, the government has finally woken up to the enormous cost imposed by the Prime Minister's non-biological revenge policy. Minister, and we have finally decided to resume rice sales to the states," Ramesh said.
"Will the non-biological chief minister, who withdrew his 'Aashirwaad' to Karnataka after the state voted in a Congress government in May 2023, apologize to the 6.5 crore people of Karnataka for disrespecting his mandate and obstruct the implementation of your democratically elected state government? Ramesh said.
Will the Prime Minister apologize to Indian taxpayers for inflating the food bill subsidy by an estimated Rs 16,000-18,000 crore by stopping the sale of surplus rice to Karnataka and other states, he asked.
Will the 17 BJP MPs and 2 JD(S) MPs elected from Karnataka, and the Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, also from Karnataka, seek fair compensation from the Government of India for the injustice committed against the poorest of poor in Karnataka, asked Ramesh.
Congress general secretary communications officer Jairam Ramesh said evidence has emerged to show that Narendra Modi's "revenge-driven" decision not only deprived the people of Karnataka of an additional 5 kg of rice through the " Anna Bhagya Guarantee", but also increased India's food subsidy bill runs into tens of billions of rupees.
He alleged that the prime minister's "revenge politics", aimed at obstructing Congress and non-BJP state governments in implementing their programmes, has corroded India's federal system and cost Indian taxpayers. .
"On June 13, 2023, the Modi government stopped selling rice to state governments under the Open Market Sales Scheme (National), revoking the Food Corporation of India's orders to Karnataka issued the previous day" Ramesh said in a statement.
"This irrational policy was carried out with the sole intention of disrupting the Anna Bhagya Scheme of the Karnataka government, which doubles the quota of rice available to every individual entitled to foodgrains under the National Food Security Act (2013)" , he stated.
Since the Modi government refused to sell the state adequate rice to implement the plan, it was only the determination and proactivity of the Karnataka government that allowed it to continue with the plan, through a cash transfer of Rs 170 per month so that each eligible beneficiary could pay for it. expenses to buy 5 kg of rice, Ramesh said.
"The claims made by the Modi government last year (about depletion of rice stocks due to bad monsoon and high prices) to justify its discontinuation of rice sale through the WHOS(D) scheme were blatantly false ", he claimed.
In fact, as a media report revealed, the government is stockpiling 50 million tonnes of rice, three times the required stock of 13.54 million tonnes, he claimed.
"It costs the FCI Rs 3,975 to purchase, transport and store a quintal (100 kg) of rice. With the budget around the corner, the government has finally woken up to the enormous cost imposed by the Prime Minister's non-biological revenge policy. Minister, and we have finally decided to resume rice sales to the states," Ramesh said.
"Will the non-biological chief minister, who withdrew his 'Aashirwaad' to Karnataka after the state voted in a Congress government in May 2023, apologize to the 6.5 crore people of Karnataka for disrespecting his mandate and obstruct the implementation of your democratically elected state government? Ramesh said.
Will the Prime Minister apologize to Indian taxpayers for inflating the food bill subsidy by an estimated Rs 16,000-18,000 crore by stopping the sale of surplus rice to Karnataka and other states, he asked.
Will the 17 BJP MPs and 2 JD(S) MPs elected from Karnataka, and the Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, also from Karnataka, seek fair compensation from the Government of India for the injustice committed against the poorest of poor in Karnataka, asked Ramesh.
