NEW DELHI: The Congress lashed out at the BJP government on Wednesday, accusing it of engaging in "anti-poor" and "vendetta politics" in the ongoing controversy over the central government's purported decision to withhold rice from the Karnataka government despite it being in stock at the Food Corporation of India (FCI).

Jairam Ramesh, the general secretary of the Congress, blasted the administration, saying, "Most latest chronology of Modi's anti-poor and vendetta politics. On May 13, 2023, the people of Karnataka overwhelmingly rejected Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) and the BJP. Siddaramaiah, the chief minister of Karnataka, said on June 2 that the Anna Bhagya guarantee will go into effect on July 1 and provide 10 kg of free food grains to low-income families. The Union Government issues a circular on June 13, 2023, prohibiting the sale of rice to states under the Open Market Sale Scheme from FCI.
 The goal of this is to destroy Anna Bhagya. Ramesh, a Rajya Sabha member, stated that Karnataka was prepared to pay FCI Rs 3,400 per quintal. However, that window was shut. However, FCI still sells rice at Rs 2,000 per quintal for the manufacturing of ethanol and the blending of fuel. Food security should always be the top priority. His comments come days after the ruling Congress in Karnataka denounced the alleged action of the federal government to refuse to sell rice that is in stock at the FCI.

On Tuesday, Siddaramaiah said that he would meet Wednesday in the nation's capital with President Droupadi Murmu and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Siddaramaiah said in a statement to media that his talks with President Droupadi Murmu and Union Home Minister Amit Shah would be courtesy calls and that this is his first meeting with them as the CM. He added that he will meet with Union Minister for Food and Civil Supplies Piyush Goyal to talk about the state's supply of rice.

Siddaramaiah had said that the Anna Bhagya programme's implementation can be postponed when discussing the project. The launch date had been set on July 1 by the Congress.A BJP member had stated that they would organise an uprising if the project wasn't completed.

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