BJP govt trying to shut down Indira canteens: Siddaramaiah

Bengaluru: Leader of Opposition Siddaramaiah alleged that Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa led BJP government is trying to shut down Indira Canteens in the state.

In a two-page letter to Yediyurappa, Siddaramaiah wrote that Indira canteens in the state haven’t received funds from civic agencies over the last few months.

He further alleged that the BJP government was deliberately starving them of funds to shut them down eventually and warned that such a move would affect the urban poor who were dependent on these outlets for subsidized food.

“Funds of about Rs 28 crore over the last six months have not been released to Indira Canteens in BBMP limits. BWSSB has cut off the water supply to 198 canteens and 12 kitchens over pending dues. You had attempted to rename Indira Canteens and politicise it earlier too,” Siddaramaiah alleged in his letter.

Indira Canteen, a food subsidisation programme inspired from the Amma Unavagam of Tamilnadu was introduced by the Congress government in August 2017. The 198 Indira Canteens, including mobile canteens, which enjoy the patronage of thousands of citizens, are operated by Chef Talk Food and Hospitality Services Pvt. Ltd., Rewards and Adamya Chetana.