Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah accuses Centre of trying to scuttle State’s free-rice scheme

Karnataka’s Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah, accused the central government of being “anti-Kannadiga” and “anti-poor” after it prevented the Food Corporation of India (FCI) from selling rice directly to the state to be used in its Anna Bhagya program, which provides 10 kg of free rice to BPL and Antyodaya cardholders. Siddaramaiah called the Centre’s decision politically motivated, adding that the state government had arranged to purchase rice at Rs 3,400 per quintal, but the Centre blocked the arrangement.