'Will Hurt Marginalised Sections Of Society': Congress As Centre Stops Rice, Wheat Sale By FCI To States

The Centre's move comes as a setback to the Congress government's plans to roll out the Anna Bhagya scheme in Karnataka.

New Delhi: Hitting out at the Centre for discontinuing the sale of rice and wheat from central pool under the Open Market Sale Scheme (OMSS) to state governments, the Congress alleged Prime Minister Narendra Modi is venting his “frustration” over the recent poll drubbing in Karnataka and that this move is hurting the marginalised sections of the society.     

The Congress’s attack comes in the wake of Centre discontinuing the sale of rice and wheat from the central pool under the OMSS to state governments, that will affect some states, including Karnataka, offering free grains to the poor.

Taking to Twitter, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh wrote, “Is this what BJP President Nadda ji meant when he proclaimed Karnataka would not get Modi ji's 'ashirwaad' if it didn't vote for BJP. By forcing FCI to discontinue the sale of wheat and rice to states through its Open Market Sale Scheme, the Modi government is hurting the most marginalised sections of society.”

"How petty must the PM be to take out his frustrations from his Karnataka loss on the people. But as CM Siddaramaiah says, every effort will be made to ensure Anna Bhagya guarantee is implemented and 10kg free food grains are provided to poor families," he said.

According to a recent order issued by the Food Corporation of India (FCI), "The sale of wheat and rice under the OMSS (domestic) for state governments is discontinued".

Slamming the centre, Randeep Surjewala, Congress in-charge for Karnataka, said, “PM Narendra Modi and BJP are inimical, they're taking their enmity against SC, ST, OBC and poor for voting out corrupt BJP (in Karnataka). They (Centre) suddenly came out with an order wherein, FCI has been directed to sell wheat and rice to private traders but not to the state governments.”

The decision has already been conveyed to Karnataka government, which had sought 13,819 tonne of rice for its own scheme under the OMSS without e-auction for July at the rate of Rs 3,400 per quintal.

However, the sale of rice under the OMSS will be continued for northeastern states, hilly states and states facing law and order situations, and natural calamities at an existing rate of Rs 3,400 per quintal, the FCI order said.