CT Ravi urges BSY to shut down Indira Canteens, alleges irregularities

Bengaluru: With the BJP government in Karnataka mulling over changing the name of state-sponsored subsidised ‘Indira Canteens’ launched by the previous Congress administration, Tourism minister CT Ravi on Wednesday urged Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa to close them down, alleging irregularities.

“There is no question of hate politics, there is irregularity happening. While food was served to about 20 people, numbers of 200 were shown. They should be ashamed for doing it,” C T Ravi said.

Speaking to reporters here, he said Rs 1 crore was spent on each Indira Canteen for Congress’ ‘political benefit.’ Ravi said there should be accountability while spending tax payer’s money.

“There is no one in the state who cannot afford food. It (canteen) was a conspiracy by the Congress party to loot money in the name of poor. Chief Minister has not yet taken any decision, but I request him to shut Indira Canteen, by doing so we can prevent waste of government money, check out records, you will get to know whose relatives have been given the contract,’ the minister said.

Ravi also alleged that the subsidised food canteens was named after former prime minister, late Indira Gandhi for political reasons.

Ravi’s comment came a day after his senior colleague and Revenue minister R Ashoka said changing the name of Indira Canteen to ‘Maharshi Valmiki Anna Kuteera’ was under the government’s consideration.

Commenting on renaming, Ravi said ‘if Congress’ money is used to run them, we don’t have any issues. It will be a penance for their (Congress) sins of looting public money by doing so (serving food for poor from Congress’ money).”

Indira Canteen providing breakfast at Rs 5 and lunch and dinner at a cost of Rs 10, was the pet project of the previous Siddaramaiah-led Congress government.