Have told Amit Shah there should be no hate politics in providing rice to the poor: Siddaramaiah

Siddaramaiah seeks 2 battalions of Indian Reserve Police for state

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has said that Union Home Minister Amit Shah has assured that he will take up the issue of providing rice to Karnataka for its ‘Anna Bhagya’ scheme with the Food Ministry.

Siddaramaiah met Shah on Wednesday night and raised the issue of rice supply to the state for its scheme, which provides an additional 5 kg of rice for each member of BPL families.

Also read | Congress has no moral right to protest: HDK on rice row

“I have brought to his (Amit Shah’s) notice that the Food Corporation of India had initially agreed to supply rice to the state and even issued a letter. However, it was denied the next day. It looks like the issue was politicised. I have said that we should not indulge in the politics of revenge,” Siddaramaiah told reporters here before leaving for Bengaluru.

He added that Shah has also assured him that he will discuss the issue with the ministry concerned and get back to him. Besides the rice issue, the chief minister also demanded that the Home Minister sanction two battalions of the Indian Reserve Police to the state.

Also read | BJP Karnataka chief Nalin Kumar Kateel attacks Congress on rice politics and freebies

Separately, a statement from the Chief Minister’s Office said that Siddaramaiah told Shah that the Centre’s policy is causing obstacles in the supply of food to the poor.

Shah said he would discuss the issue with Union Food Minister Piyush Goyal. According to a statement from the CMO, Siddaramaiah said, “The Centre’s new policy is against the Food Security Act. It will directly affect two square meals of the poor. Hence, it will be good if the policy of not supplying foodgrains to the states is changed.”