Protest 'street feast' held after Mandya lit fest says 'no' to non-veg food

Members of various organisations consumed non-vegetarian food, near the DC’s office, in Mandya, on Saturday, demanding serving of non-vegetarian food, as part of the 87th Akhila Bharatiya Kannada Sahitya Sammelana.

The activists gathered near the DC’s office, and expressed their anger, by eating chicken curry, mudde (ragi ball), and eggs, demanding not to snatch their right to choice of food, under the banner of ‘Call for Food Revolution’.

M B Nagannagowda of Karunadu Sevakaru organisation stated, "The conference is being held in Mandya, where non-vegetarian food is popular. But, the organisers of the literary fest are saying ‘no’ to non-vegetarian food. This is an assault on our right to food”.

He urged food committee president and MLA Ramesh Bandisiddegowda and Mandya District in-charge Minister N Cheluvarayaswamy to facilitate serving of non-vegetarian food to the conference delegates.

M V Krishna, coordinator of Dalit Sangharsha Samiti, said, “There is discrimination based on food habits. MLA P M Narendraswamy, Chairman of the Scheduled Caste Welfare Committee, should pay attention and provide us with non-vegetarian meals”.

Jayaram of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike, Mangala Lankesh of Neladani Balaga, advocates J Ramaiah, Cheeranahalli Lakshman, B T Vishwanath, leaders Narasimhamurthy, Hanakere Gangadhar, Kenchanahalli Satish, Pradeep, and Gurumurthy participated in the protest.