Can People Eat Money, BJP Asks, As K'taka Congress Offers Cash Instead Of Rice

Anna Bhagya, one among the five poll promises made by the Indian National Congress (INC) in Karnataka, has failed to take off. Anna Bhagya offered below poverty line (BPL) beneficiaries five kilograms of free rice.

"It is a temporary measure. To keep our word, we have decided to give cash. As and when we get sufficient rice, the cash disbursements will be stopped and rice will be distributed", Chief Minister Siddaramaiah stated.

The Government of Karnataka has failed to procure the required rice to be distributed to the beneficiaries. Earlier, Karnataka Aam Aadmi Party's state president Prithvi Reddy had offered help to the Congress party by stating that Punjab is willing to provide the required rice to be distributed.

According to Minister H K Patil, 22,000 tonnes of rice is required as a part of the scheme. Food and Civil Supplies Minister K H Muniyappa stated that each individual belonging to a BPL family is entitled to Rs 170 compensation every month. The money will be transferred to their accounts using direct benefit transfer (DBT), a Times of India report stated.

Former Chief Minister of Karnataka, Basavaraj Bommai, launched a scathing attack at the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government, and asked them if people could "eat money".