Ex-CM Basavaraj Bommai detained as BJP, Congress clash over free rice scheme

Several BJP leaders, including former CM Basavaraj Bommai, were detained during a protest organised by the party on Tuesday against the Congress government. The protest was to counter the Congress' demonstration against the Centre for refusing to release rice to implement its Anna Bhagya scheme.

Slamming the police action, Bommai said the Congress government has turned Karnataka into a 'police state'.

The issue of providing free rice to low-income families has escalated in the state, with the Congress and the BJP facing each other in multiple protests across the state.


The BJP's demonstration was in response to the Congress party taking to the streets to protest the Central government directing the Food Corporation of India (FCI) to sell rice on the open market, rather than directly to Karnataka. "The Congress' guarantees cannot be fulfilled, it is playing protest-drama," said R Ashok.

"We are fighting the anti-poor policies of the Centre," said deputy CM DK Shivakumar. The government will buy rice from other states and fulfill the party's poll promise, he added.