Bengaluru: Members of Bharatiya Janata Party (BLP) on Tuesday staged dharna in the Legislative Council protesting the cancellation of mid-day meals supplied by Kollur Mookambika Temple to Kalladka School children.
“Let us not politicise the supply of mid-day meals to school children. There are physically challenged children among the school children. I appeal to the government to restore the supply of mid-day meals to Kalladka Sri Rama School children immediately,’’ Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council K.s. Eshwarappa said.
BJP MLC Kota Poojari raised the issue during the Question Hour in the Council. He wanted to know the reason why the mid-day meal, that was being supplied for four years, has been stopped without any prior information.
“I want the government to restore the supply of mid-day meals to school children. I blame the district in-charge minister Ramnath Rai for stopping of the mid-day meals to Kalladka Sri Rama School. Minister Ramnath Rai has written a letter to Muzrai Department to stop the supply of mid-day meals to the school children,’’ he said.
Replying the query from Poojary, Minister for Textiles and Muzrai Rudrappa Manappa Lamani said there was no provision to supply mid-day meals to school children by a temple.
“The school management can send a request to the state government for the supply of mid-day meals to the school children. The government can consider supply of mid-day meals on par with other government schools,’’ the minister said.
Disappointed with minister’s reply, the BJP members rushed into the well of the House and staged dharna demanding the restoration of mid-day meals to Kalladka Sri Rama School.
JD(S) member Basavaraj Horatti has also appealed the government to restore the supply of mid-day meals to Kalladka Sri Rama School.
“I recommended the supply of mid-day meals to Kalladka Sri Rama School children when I was Education Minister. So, there will be nothing wrong if the government restores the supply of mid-day meals to the school children. The mid-day meals were supplied for four years. How come it is stopped abruptly now?’’ Horatti asked.
Intervening in the discussion, Minister for Agriculture Krishna Byregowda has suggested the school management to apply to the government for the supply of mid-day meals since there was no provision for the supply of mid-day meals by a temple managed by the Muzrai department.
“The BJP members are politicizing the supply of mid-day meals issue. I want them withdraw dharna and allow the Council to conduct the business,’’ Krishna Byregowda said.
At this juncture, Legislative Council Chairman D.H. Shankaramurthy adjourned the House for 10 minutes.
Later, the BJP members withdrew the dharna after Ministers D K Shivakumar and M R Seetharam assured them of taking the issue to the Chief Minister’s notice.
