Hotel food at Dalit’s house: Yeddyurappa under attack, BJP rubbishes allegations

Congress and other parties alleged that BS Yeddyurappa didn’t consume the pulao made by the Dalit family and asked for idlis to be procured from outside.

The BJP rubbished on Monday swirling allegations in Karnataka that state chief BS Yeddyurappa and other leaders didn’t consume the food made by a Dalit family during a party programme but ordered food from outside.

The saffron party – which is aiming to make inroads into the Dalit community – said the family itself had ordered food from outside because of too many guests. This came after the Congress and other parties alleged that the BJP state brass didn’t consume the pulao made by the family and asked for idlis to be procured from outside.

“ It was only when the delegation reached the house that it was found that the food had been ordered from outside. The leaders consumed that food as it would have disrespectful to refuse it,” state BJP media convenor Shantaram said.

Yeddyurappa criticised both the Congress and Janata Dal (Secular) for trying to make the incident a political issue. “Leaders of both parties must first apologise to the family,” he said.

The BJP is aiming to dislodge the Congress government in the southern state in elections scheduled for next year. “We are conducting an outreach programme to meet people affected by the drought. Every morning the BJP leaders have breakfast at the house of a Dalit,” said Shantaram.