Karnataka BJP President B.Y. Vijayendra has accused a significant diversion of food grains under the state’s Anna Bhagya scheme. Recent Lokayukta raids in Bengaluru revealed the illicit sale of large quantities of ration rice and ragi intended for scheme beneficiaries. Vijayendra called for accountability from Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, emphasizing the need to address the alleged diversion of food meant for the poor to the black market.
Vijayendra demanded the immediate arrest of those involved in the alleged racket, including corrupt officials. He stressed the necessity for stringent legal action against all responsible parties. The discovery of 35,000 bags with the Anna Bhagya logo in a private warehouse, along with a network engaged in repackaging rice for open market sale, pointed to potential senior official involvement, according to Vijayendra.
Highlighting the absence of CCTV surveillance in warehouses, deficiencies in inventory management, and the discovery of 860 unrecorded rice bags, Vijayendra criticized what he termed as administrative failures by the Congress government. Karnataka’s Leader of the Opposition, R. Ashoka, echoed similar sentiments, accusing the government of neglecting the protection of food grains designated for the needy under the Anna Bhagya scheme. Allegations of widespread diversion and illegal sale of subsidized rice and ragi were made against the Congress leadership.
Referring to a recent Lokayukta raid, Ashoka highlighted another alleged scam involving the Congress government. He claimed that substantial quantities of ration rice and ragi meant for Anna Bhagya beneficiaries were unlawfully redirected from Food Corporation warehouses to private storage locations in Bengaluru. The Karnataka government has yet to respond to these accusations.
