Minister K Muraleedharan makes volte-face on free meal distribution in hospital

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Minister K Muraleedharan made a U-turn from his stance against DYFI distributing food packages to patients in hospital premises in the state. Muraleedharan said that his previous statement was based on the situation in Alappuzha. The minister said that organisations are encroaching on land in Alappuzha in the pretext of providing food. The press release from the minister said he would not bring politics into food.

"The decision was made the other day based on the situation in Alappuzha Medical College. It should not be interpreted in general terms. In Alappuzha, some organisations encroached on land in an organised manner in the name of providing food. This is unacceptable. They encroached on land. The objection is against the land encroachment and not for providing food. It is in this situation that the government is intervening to prevent such incidents from recurring," the Health Department said.

“The community kitchen was started at Alappuzha Medical College as part of an effort to provide food to all the patients and their relatives in the hospital. Everyone needs to cooperate with the community kitchen. There is no politics, religion or caste in food.” Opined the minister.