Invoking former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s ‘garibi hatao’ slogan, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah even made the humble ‘vangibath’ (brinjal rice) a Congress counter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s now famous radio show ‘Mann ki Baat’ at the inauguration of the city’s first Indira Canteen at Jayanagar on Wednesday.
With AICC vice-president Rahul Gandhi on stage as the chief guest, Mr. Siddaramaiah took a swipe at the Prime Minister and said:
“For the past three years, it’s only Mr. Modi’s Mann ki Baat that’s going on. But we are only concerned about vangibath for the poor.”
A total of 101 canteens were opened on Wednesday to provide low cost and hygienic food.
Mr. Siddaramaiah said they are a continuation of schemes such as Anna Bhagya, which are aimed at fulfilling the commitment of making Karnataka hunger-free.
“The canteens have been named after former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi as she was the first to give the call of ‘garibi hatao’. Responding to the “Indira Hatao” campaign by her opponents, she had said her concern was “garibi hatao”.
“To those who are today opposing our pro-poor policies, I have the same response,” Mr. Siddaramaiah said. Coming down on the critics of the programme, he said only those who knew hunger would know its pain. “Those who oppose the programme are anti-poor and anti-downtrodden.”
Meanwhile, sources said Indira Canteens will soon be extended to all district centres in the State.
Inaugurating the canteens, Mr. Gandhi reiterated that they are a means to ensure that no Bengalurean ever goes hungry.
“Lakhs of people come to this town with dreams. Not all of them are rich. The canteens are targeted at auto drivers, maids, cab drivers, delivery boys and the destitute,” he said, while asking the government to focus on cleanliness and taste.
Mr. Gandhi inaugurated the canteen by having the first breakfast of two idlis, along with Mr. Siddaramaiah and other senior Congress leaders.
Though they had been invited, BJP leaders, including Union Ministers D.V. Sadananda Gowda and Ananth Kumar, skipped the programme.
From the past three years, it’s only Narendra Modi’s Mann ki Baat that’s going on. But we are only concerned about vangibath for the poor. Siddaramaiah, Chief Minister