Congress Govt mulls Indira’s name for subsidised canteens
Bengaluru, Mar 28, 2017, (PTI): The Congress government in Karnataka today said it wasconsidering naming the subsidised food canteens proposed in the recent budget after former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
“There is a demand for naming it as Indira Canteens from the Congress legislature party…will look into it and consider it while issuing order,” Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said.
He informed this to the House while replying to the discussion on the budget that was presented on March 15.
As the Chief Minister made a reference about the canteens, calling it “Namma Canteens” as mentioned in the budget speech,some Congress MLAs said “it is Indira Canteens”.
Taking the cue from the popular “Amma canteens” inTamil Nadu, introduced by former Chief Minister late Jayalalithaa, Siddaramaiah, who holds the Finance portfolio,had said while presenting the budget that he proposed to launch”Namma Canteens” in Bengaluru, where breakfast would beprovided at Rs five and lunch and dinner at Rs 10.
Trying to give a political touch to this “populist” announcement, the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) that met onMarch 22 had demanded that the canteens be named after formerPrime Minister Indira Gandhi, so that it can be better marketed to favour the party ahead of the 2018 assembly polls.
Siddaramaih said along with poor, the canteens wereaimed at catering to Bengaluru’s floating population of about15 to 20 lakh people,as also to those who come to the city in search of jobs and as tourists.
Mrs Gandhi was served cold idlis which had stones during her stay at the circuit house in Madikeri in 1979. This of course was in 1979 when she was out if power and was also expelled from the parliament by Morarji Desai. This was allowed to happen under the very nose of Dev Raj Urs wgo was the CM. He had fallen out with her. Least did he expect the break if Janata party which led to the dissolution of parliament and mid term elections were called in 1980. Dev Raj Urs had to resign as Janata lost and his own Cong (D) had to bow out.
See the fate in politics. Siddu who was a JDS guy is the CM now. He needs Indiramma to revive Cong I image. Why not Sonia canteen? Pizza khaanaa mana hai kya? Why not Rahul canteen? Bargar and sos? Woh bhi chalega. What about Priyanka canteen? Diet coke and chips only?
Good choice would be Jannu canteen when it comes to apna kudla. Kottige paayasa. Hotte tumba tinni.
Jokes apart, I support Siddu’s idea of subsidised food for the underprivileged. May God bless him.