Mangaluru: Udupi-Chikkamagaluru MP, BJP leader Shobha Karandlaje has launched ‘Mane Mane Bikshatane’ drive on Thursday in Mangaluru to collect rice and other grains from the residents of Mangaluru to support the students of two schools in Bantwal taluk.

The decision to collect grains came in the wake of Karnataka state government’s move which withdrew financial assistance given through Kollur Mookambika Temple to two government-aided private schools managed by the Sri Rama Vidyakendra Trust which is led by RSS senior leader Kalladka Prabhakara Bhat. According to an order on July 31, the government cancelled the adoption of the 2 schools- Sri Rama Vidya Kendra, Kalladka, and Sri Devi Vidya Kendra, Punacha located at Bantwal taluk in Dakshina Kannada district.

According to the drive launched, the protesters have decided to collect rice from the residents of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts every month to support the students of two schools to supply midday meal to them.