Mangaluru: “ The government is ready to provide mid day meal to the students at Sri Rama high school in Kalladka and Sri Devi school at Punacha, if Prabhakar Bhat submits a written appeal to the government, and I will see that they are immediately provided the mid-day meals, which are provided to all schools run on government aid”, said the district minister in-charge B Ramanath Rai, that I am not responsible in a press meet held at the DCC office Mallikatta here on August 14.

At a pressmeet, Ramanath Rai said, “Muzrai Department withdrew, the financial help provided by Kollur Mookambika Temple Udupi to Sri Rama and Sri Devi schools. There is no provision to adopt school, as per Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments Act, 1997 (Rules 2002) Prabhakar Bhat got Mookambika Temple to provide financial aid to these two schools belonging to him, when BJP government was in power, and the financial aid continued for many years till now.

Janardhan Reddy, the mining mafia, and many bollywood actors of this country, have given financial aid to Sri Rama and Sri Devi schools. Being aided schools, all the benefits from the government such as mid day meal, School shoes for students, uniforms, is due to these students in Sri Rama and Sri Devi schools, but due to refusal to pass on the benefit to the students but wants to continue receiving financial help from the Temple? Parents if they are keen on the mid-day meals and other benefits, should think of sending their children to a government school in Kalladka which provides all the facilities.”

Further Rai said, “The salary for the teachers of Sri Rama school Kalladka is given by the government, but BJP is giving political colour to this issue, for stopping grant from Kollur Temple by Muzrai department. Why, was Prabhakar Bhat refused mid-day meals offered by the government and opted for funds from Kollur Temple is that it could be misused. Investigation may reveal misuse of the funds”.

Janardhan Poojary made statement on stopping grant to Sri Rama School in Kalladka and Sri Devi School in Punacha, without knowing the real facts, “Poojary should have known, The Muzrai department has stopped the financial aid from Kollur Tample for these schools. But has thought, the aid from the government and that he must have referred is an illegal act”.

Harish District Congress President, MLA J R Lobo, MLA Moideen Bava, among others were present.