Bengaluru, Jun 24 (IANS): Former Chief Minister and Congress MLC Jagadish Shettar on Saturday launched a scathing attack on the Centre for denying sale of rice through the Food Corporation India (FCI) to Karnataka.

"It's an unpardonable crime," Shettar charged.

He was speaking to reporters over denial of sale of rice or additional supply to the state towards implementing Anna Bhagya scheme which intends to provide 10 kilograms of rice to all members of BPL families. "Denial of sale of rice to Karnataka is not a good conduct by the central government," he attacked.

Firstly, they promised to provide rice but now they are denying it for political reasons. The central government should provide additional rice to the state, Shettar stated.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is convening a meeting to discuss the issue against the backdrop of the central government denying the supply of rice to the state. The meeting will be attended by minister of Food and Civil Supplies K.H. Muniyappa, Chief Secretary Vandita Sharma and top officers of the Food department.

The meeting is scheduled in the afternoon and it will discuss the alternative arrangements.

Sources in the Congress said that after the launch of the free travel scheme, the image of the party and the government is steadily growing. If the 10 kilograms of free rice scheme to all members of BPL cardholders is launched, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and the Congress government will take tremendous goodwill. The development would be detrimental to the BJP, which wants to make a comeback in the state strongly during the Lok Sabha elections.