Mangaluru : The Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) will stage a ‘Mock Indira Canteen’ protest in front of deputy commissioner’s office the same day demanding such low cost food outlets in this port city as well. DYFI members will sell food items of Indira Canteen menu at the mock canteen in Mangaluru at the same price as part of a symbolic protest.

DYFI state president Muneer Katipalla told reporters that Left organisations wholeheartedly welcome decision of state government to open Indira canteen offering food at subsidized prices in Bengaluru. “We want the state government to open similar canteens in Mangaluru city and in other major towns in the districts immediately. It was DYFI that raised voice by holding series of protests to control the prices of food items in hotels and also rationalisation of food prices,” he said.

“We have been demanding that the government open restaurants in lines of ‘Maveli Restaurants’ in Kerala. It is unfortunate that the government has left all other cities in Karnataka and ventured to open Indira canteens only in Bengaluru,” Muneer said adding the novel protest by setting up a mock Indira Canteen has been planned to draw attention of the government.

“Mangaluru city is a fast developing city and it also has a tag of a ‘costly city’. Prices of food items in most of the restaurants in the city are pricey and beyond the reach of common man. Auto rickshaw drivers, bus employees, construction workers, coolie workers and students depend on restaurants and eateries. They are forced to shell out huge money for their food. Hence, opening Indira Canteens is essential for the city,” Muneer said. DYFI members will also demand that the government ensures that district level food security committees are functional in all districts, he said. “District level committees should meet periodically to review prices of food items sold in different categories of hotels. Prices should be fixed and modified periodically with approval of such committees,” he demanded.