After India agreed to lift the ban on rice export to Singapore in view of a "very close strategic partnership", Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah criticised the Centre for giving rice to Singapore but not their state. He said that the poor people of Karnataka were not given rice. Earlier, Karnataka said that the Centre turned down the Karnataka government's request to supply rice for implementation of 'Anna Bhagya's Scheme'.


The statement of Siddaramaiah comes as farmers association observe bandh in state over Cauvery water sharing row on Friday. 




On the rice issue, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah said, "They (Centre) are giving rice to Singapore but not to our state. The Central govt is doing politics. No rice is given to the poor people of Karnataka. We said we would pay for the rice but still, they did not provide us rice. Rice was supposed to be given to the poor but it was not. BJP and the Centre are working against the poor."










 






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On July 10, the Karnataka government launched Anna Bhagya scheme aimed at providing rice to those belonging to the Below Poverty line. However, due to the unavailability of rice, the state government has been distributing money instead of rice. 


Under the scheme, the beneficiaries receive Rs 170 every month in the place of an additional 5 kg rice. 


On the decision, Karnataka Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao said that the Centre had stocks of rice but they stopped it due to political motive in order to stop Anna Bhagya scheme.