BENGALURU: The Indira Canteen is an ambitious project of the Congress which has been saying that they will be upgraded for several years. But ironically, the canteens are closing their shutters in the city.
An Indira Canteen in Opposition leader R Ashoka’s Padmanabhanagar constituency is closed. While there are allegations of a political conspiracy, Indira Canteens in the constituencies represented by four BJP MLAs constituencies are closed so far.
The Indira Canteens have been haunted by several issues including food not being supplied, idlis not being provited and water problems every day. People had expected that the Siddaramaiah-led government will bring some reforms to the Indira canteens by providing the necessary facilities, but there has been no response from the government. Instead of improving facilities, the canteens are being locked.
The Indira Canteen in Hosakerehalli ward of Opposition leader (LoP) R Ashoka’s Padmanabhanagar constituency has been closed for the last 10 days. Locals have complained to the BBMP, but the problem has not been resolved. Questions are now being raised as to whether it is a political ploy to encroach government land or to settle political disputes.
The Indira Canteens in Prakash Nagar ward of Rajajinagar Assembly constituency, Hosakerehalli in Padmanabhanagar Assembly constituency, Shakambari Nagar, Yediyur and Belathur wards in Jayanagar Assembly constituency, represented by BJP’s C K Ramamurthy, are also closed.
The canteens in MLA S Suresh Kumar’s Rajajinagar assembly constituency, MLA Ravi Subramanya’s Basavanagudi constituency, Srinagar ward, the mobile canteens in Dattatreya Temple ward under Dr C N Ashwath Narayan’s Malleswaram Assembly constituency, and MLA Uday Garudachar of Chikkapet assembly constituency, are closed.
It is said that the Indira Canteens are closed as the tender has not been called and bills are pending. Residents say that the issues should be sorted out in the initial stage as many poor people are looking forward to the opening of the canteens at the earliest.
The BBMP Chief Commissioner Tushar Giri Nath has said regarding the closing Indira Gandhi canteens, “We are not running the Indira Canteens on the basis on any political party. Six out of 198 Indira Canteens were closed while one was demolished. None of the MLAs of any party have raised questions about it. Sixteen mobile canteens are closed and we will open them”.
Girish, from Padmanabhanagar, said, “Indira Canteen is an ambitious project of Congress and BJP is always opposed it. This is a prime place and near the bus stand in Hosakerehalli. The BJP has plan to construct a building in the Hosakerehalli park, which is the only park for us. We have strong doubt that there is political conspiracy behind this. The authorities concerned should be take measures before closing the canteen. It is been running from five years. Labourers, street vendors and beggars depend on the canteen for their meals. we will not allow them destroy the canteen building and we will stop them from if they want to build another structure here”.