Your tummy so full that you are ignoring poor man's hunger?: Siddu to BSY

Bengaluru: Former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday questioned CM BS Yediyurappa, “Is your tummy so full that you are ignorant about poor man’s hunger? Does your party cater to only elites’ appetite?”

As Indira Canteens, the pet project of the previous Congress government to provide highly subsidised food to the urban poor, is on the verge of closure as neither the state government nor the Bengaluru corporation (BBMP) have made any budgetary allocations Siddaramaiah in a series of tweet expressed anger against Yediyurappa-led state government.

“BJP government is on a spree to downsize or destroy pro-people schemes and policies. It was Anna Bhagya then and Indira Canteen now. The decision on Anna Bhagya was withdrawn after our threat against any such move. Our stand on Indira Canteen will not be any different,” he tweeted.

He further added, More than 3 lakh meals are served each day in BBMP limits alone. A program that has alleviated the hunger of many marginalized sections who are the victims of social and economic injustices. Any attempt to target the Canteens will worsen Urban Poverty & poor families’ livelihood.”

” State government’s budget is more than ₹2.3 lakh Crore and is Yediyurappa finding it so difficult to accommodate Indira Canteen program by providing just ₹300-400Cr? If the needy is not entitled for subsidized food, even the privileged representatives should be denied of subsidies.,” he lashed out.

Taking a cue from Amma Canteen in neighbouring Tamil Nadu, the Congress government had started the Indira Canteens in Bengaluru on August 15, 2018 ahead of 2018 assembly polls.

These canteens offered breakfast at Rs 5 and meals twice a day at Rs 10 per plate in the afternoon and night.