Vijayawada : Stating that they have successfully brought hunger to an end with the relaunching of Anna canteens, minister for education, information technology (IT) and electronics, Nara Lokesh said here on Friday that the TDP-led NDA government was determined to fulfil its election promises within 100 days of coming to power. Relaunching the Anna canteens at Nulakapeta and at the old bus stand in Mangalagiri, the minister regretted that an MLA from the YSRCP is making fun of the poor. “It is really painful to know that a YSRCP MLA is making a mockery of the poor,” Lokesh remarked.
Standing in the queue, Lokesh had his breakfast along with those who are in waiting. Reaffirming the commitment of the state government to fulfil all the promises made to the people of Mangalagiri, he said that 100 Anna canteens were already reopened and the remaining too will be relaunched on a war footing basis. Criticising the previous government for closing the canteens with just one signature, the minister said that when he raised the issue in Legislative Council, the then minister for municipal administration promised to reopen them.
“But they never made any attempt to reopen these canteens and when I asked the then government, they replied that the expenditure is heavy to manage them,” he added. Lokesh, however, while in the Opposition has managed four Anna canteens with his personal expenditure in Mangalagiri constituency. These canteens served food at merely Rs 2 per meal at Mangal.