Udupi first open defecation free dist: CM Siddaramaiah

Udupi: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has declared Udupi as the first open defecation free district on Sunday.

The CM was in Udupi on Sunday to inaugurate the Karnataka Government Koosamma Shambhu Shetty Memorial Haji Abdullah Mother and Child Hospital at Udupi.

"Today Udupi has been declared as the first open defecation free district in the state. By October 2, the whole of Karnataka will be declared open defecation free," the Chief Minister said, adding that the  aim of his government was to make Karnataka a hunger free state too.

"The Opposition claims that they will make Karnataka Congress free. But our aim is to achieve a hunger free state. Projects like Annabhayga, Vasathi Bhagya, Ksheera Bhagya and Krushi Bhagya are for achieving this goal," he claimed.

Attributing the setting up of Indira canteens in the state as a tribute to former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, Siddaramaiah said that already 200 such canteens have started functioning in Bengaluru and all taluk and district headquarters would have a canteen. “One canteen per one lakh people is our aim. We will have 300 more such canteens in the state," he declared.

Speaking to reporters he said that the rice provided to Indira canteens was of good quality and refuted allegations that they were of substandard quality.

On the 'Parivarthana Yatra' of the BJP,  Siddaramaiah said that those who divide society and set ablaze passions in the name of caste and community should have 'parivarthana' (change) first.

He refuted allegations that he had any animosity vis-a-vis the Udupi Pejawar Mutt Seer Sri Vishwesha Teertha Swamiji.

"This time there is no invite from the Pejawar Mutt. I don't have any enmity with the Mutt or the Pejawar seer. I have a good relationship with all  six and a half crore Kannadigas. Earlier I have visited the temple. I am a Shiva Bhakt and also a Krishna Bhakt. I believe God is one and is called by different names," Siddaramaiah said and continued with the Vachana, "Ullavaru Shivalaya Maduvaru… Nanenu Madali Badavanayya….."

The Udupi hospital was a government hospital and would remain so, said the Chief Minisiter while dispelling doubts among  a section of people.