Karnataka is hunger-free state, says Oscar Fernandes

 

Karkala, 25 May 2015: Karnataka is a proud ’hunger-free state’, proclaimed senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha Member Oscar Fernandes.

 

Addressing a news conference on Sunday at the Congress office here, Fernandes said that free distribution of rice in the state has led to this rare feat.

 

"The revolutionary step of distributing rice to the poor free of cost was a dear dream of AICC Chief Sonia Gandhi. The Karnataka state government has realised this dream," said Fernandes.

 

He recalled that if Mahatma Gandhiji had dreamt of providing land to the poor and the landless, Indira Gandhi had realised the dream of the Father of Nation through Land Reform Act. However, the Jana Sangha had opposed the same.

 

The pro-people policies were continued by the UPA government at the centre by providing rice at subsidized price to the poor, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee SCheme, Right to Information and Right to Education Acts.

 

"The UPA had laid the foundation to make India into a Super Power by 2020 and due to the efforts made by the UPA, India today stands as a close contender to any other developed nation," said Fernandes adding that even during the global economic meltdown, Indian economy remained unaffected and the main reason for this was the nationalisation of Banks done by Indira Gandhi.

 

"Even America is contemplating nationalisation of banks today, while Indira Gandhi had done it 40 years ago," he said remembering some of the significant contributions of the Congress to the country.