K’taka Not To Buy Rice From Centre: Minister Pralhad

Hubballi (Karnataka) :Union Minister for Food and Civil Supplies Pralhad Joshi has said the Centre was offering rice to Karnataka at a minimum price of Rs 22.50 per kilo, which would save the state Rs 2,280 crore annually, but the Congress-led government was unwilling to accept it.

Responding to media reports that the people of Karnataka were not even getting 10 kilograms of rice and were struggling to receive 5 kilos of grain, Minister Joshi said on Monday that the state government has rejected a Rs 10 discount from the Centre. The ruling Congress party had promised 10 kg of free rice for every member of the BPL family under the Anna Bhagya free rice scheme.

The Karnataka government currently buys rice at Rs 34 per kilogram. However, despite the Central government offering a reduced price of Rs 22.50 per kilo -- a Rs 10 discount -- the state has refused to procure it, Joshi pointed out. The Minister further emphasised that if the government purchased rice at this rate, it would save Rs 2,280 crore annually. He accused the CM Siddaramaiah-led government of deliberately ignoring this opportunity.