Mayor suspends Indira canteen officer for failing to serve food

Within six days of launching Indira Canteen, the State government’s ambitious project to feed the poor is facing the initial hiccups. A canteen in Subramanya Nagar was closed apparently due to to lack of water. But this did not go down well with Mayor G Padmavathi who rushed to the spot after the news broke. She directed BBMP Commissioner Manjunath Prasad to suspend the canteen In-charge and senior officer Nagesh, reports Kannada Prabha.

People had gathered at Subrahmanya Nagar Indira Canteen on Monday morning but they were surprised to see the board that displayed, Canteen Closed'. They waited for a while thinking it would be opened. The food had already arrived but the officials had displayed the board as there was no water to serve. Mayor G Padmavathi heard the news and immediately rushed to the spot. She was furious that the officials had closed the canteen though the food had arrived. The Mayor brought this incident to Minister KJ George immediately and instructed Commissioner Manjunath Prasad to suspend Nagesh, the canteen in-charge. 

Later, she told Kannada Prabha that under any circumstances Indira Canteen should not be closed. Any problem must be brought to the notice of BBMP Commissioner. Stringent action will be taken against anyone who fails to do so, she said.

Meanwhile, the Congress leaders are upset that BJP leaders for unnecessarily slamming Indira Canteen. Minister Ramalinga Reddy said BJP leaders are intolerant towards the fact that the canteen was launched to provide food for poor is named after Indira Gandhi. They must give up such petty thoughts. "Did we oppose when several projects during BJP ruling was named after Vajpayee? Indira Gandhi has made significant contribution towards the development of the country and we must celebrate for naming the canteen after her," he said. KPCC working president Dinesh Gundurao said BJP is unable to digest the popularity of the project. Just to bring a bad name to the Indira Canteen, they may put a cockroach in the food, he said.

Responding to this with shock, BJP Spokesperson S Suresh Kumar said no political party will have such meanness to cause harm to people. Definitely BJP does not have such thinking. Dinesh’s statement comes as a shock, he said.

Meanwhile, Yeshwanthpura MLA ST Somashekar has written to the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to increase the quantity of food served from 300 to 1,000. He also suggested to set up working teams to supervise efficient running of the canteens.

• indira canteen
• mayor g padmavathi
• karnataka