BJP govt is playing politics over rice supply: Darshan

Mysuru: Congress leaders in Mysuru region on Tuesday staged a dharna against the BJP-led NDA government accusing it of denying additional rice supply to the state. Protests were held at Mysuru, Mandya, Chamarajanagar, Hassan and Chikkamagaluru.
In Mysuru, newly elected MLA Darshan Dhruvanarayana participated in the agitation at Gandhi Square in the Central Business District. The protestors accused the Centre of vendetta politics and of robbing the poor of nutritional security. The protestors shouted slogans against PM Narendra Modi.
Darshan claimed that the Centre issued an order banning supply of rice and wheat to the states except for the northeastern states a day after the Siddaramaiah government announced revised Anna Bhagya scheme.
“This proves that the Centre is playing vendetta politics,” he said.
In neighbouring Chamarajanagar town, district minister K Venkatesh led the protest. The Congress activists launched the protest march from Chamarajeshwara Temple. Congress MLAs C Puttarangashetty, and AR Krishnamurthy were present. They staged a ‘rasta roko’ at Bhuvaneshwara Circle blocking National Highway connecting Karnataka to Tamil Nadu.
Venkatesh stated that the Centre had agreed to provide the quantum of rice required but backtracked due to political reasons. “The state is not seeking rice free of cost but has stated that it will pay the amount. The Centre has denied the supply as it fears that Anna Bhagya scheme will boost the image of the Siddaramaiah government,” he said.
The protest at Mandya was led by agriculture minister N Cheluvarayaswamy. Shivamogga district Congress committee (DCC) president HS Sundaresh led the protest march at Shivamogga from Gandhi Bazaar and ended it at Shivappa Nayaka Circle.
Protest will be launched at taluk levels : DCC chief
Sundaresh said, “Karnataka voters elected 25 BJP MPs, but the saffron party is playing politics. The protest will be launched at taluk levels also.”
Congress workers in Chikkamagaluru and Hassan districts hit the streets too. Chikkamagaluru DCC president K P Amshumanth led the protest at Hanumanthappa Circle. In Hassan, Arasikere MLA K M Shivalingegowda led the protest. He slammed the Centre for preventing the state government from providing rice to the poor.
The Kodagu District Congress Committee led by its president Dharmaja Uthappa held a protest in Madikeri against the central government. Several workers gathered in front of the DC Office raised slogans against the central government. Congress leader TP Ramesh, women wing president Surayya Abrar and others were present.
Meanwhile, former MLA Yathindra Siddaramaiah alleged that the central government is trying to create hurdles for the implementation of Anna Bhagya Scheme. Speaking at the thanksgiving function of Varuna Congress committee, he alleged that before the announcement of the scheme, the Centre had agreed to give required quantum of rice to the state. “But when the date of the scheme launch was announced, it backtracked,” he alleged.
Left activists stage dharna
Activists of Left organisations and farmers staged a dharna in front of BR Ambedkar statue in front of Town Hall, Mysuru accusing the Centre of playing with the nutritional security of the poor. They shouted slogans against the PM.