No need for subsidised food in Parliament canteen: Congress member G Sukender Reddy

NEW DELHI: Amid controversy over subsidy being extended to Parliament canteen, a Congress member today urged the Lok Sabha Speaker to ensure that food at the facility gets sold at market rate in order to protect the "dignity" of lawmakers.

In a letter to Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, G Sukender Reddy said there is "no need" to provide subsidised food in Parliament canteen.

"I have come to know that only nine per cent of the sales in the canteen are being availed by the Hon'ble Members of Parliament. However, the hue and cry in media blames the MPs...therefore it is high time we give up this facility at once to save the decorum and dignity of this August House and the responsible lawmakers," he said.

He said the canteen facility should continue and the food can be supplied on market rate.

Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MP Jay Panda had also pitched for giving up subsidy after an RTI reply revealed that food in Parliament canteen is available on highly subsidised rates.

In his letter to the Speaker, the MP had proposed "the removal of food subsidy extended to Members of Parliament".