JOIN USThe Legislative Council on Tuesday witnessed an interesting debate over chicken and fish served at Social Welfare department’s hostels in the state.
While seeking information on Social Welfare department hostels in Kodagu district, Congress member Veena Achaiah requested the government to provide native food to the inmates.
“The food culture is different in Kodagu. People in the region prefer chicken and fish. I request the government to provide chicken and fish to the inmates,” she said.
Social Welfare Minister H Anjaneya said the department was serving the local food at the hostels. The menu included jowar roti, ragi ball, fish and chicken.
Leader of the Opposition K S Eshwarappa sought to know from Council Chairman D H Shankaramurthy whether he has eaten the fish served by the Social Welfare department.
Ramachandra Gowda (BJP) interrupted Eshwarappa and said: Shankaramurthy doesn’t ‘eat’ fish, but ‘swallows’ it. The Council burst into laughter for a while after Gowda’s remarks.
Action sought
JD(S) member Sandesh Nagaraj demanded that action should be taken against Prof Ram Rajasekharan, Director, Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI), Mysuru, for his “anti-Kannada” stand. Nagaraj sought immediate intervention of Kannada Development Authority to end the crisis as Rajasekharan has closed down Kannada Balaga, a pro-Kannada organisation in CFTRI. He has ordered closure of a Kannada magazine brought out by the CFTRI workers and suspended three workers for participating in pro-Kannada activities.
Shankaramurthy directed the government to look into the issue.