'Food freedom cannot be curtailed': Kerala parties oppose Governor's reported kitchen order

Thiruvananthapuram: Keralam Governor Om Prakash Mathur faced criticism from the ruling Congress and opposition CPM on Friday over reports that he had directed the Lok Bhavan kitchen to prepare only vegetarian food, triggering allegations that the move reflected the Sangh Parivar's agenda.

The controversy erupted on Mathur's first day in office, shortly after he was sworn in as the 29th Governor of Keralam.

Media reports said Mathur had instructed that non-vegetarian food should neither be prepared nor served in the Lok Bhavan kitchen. However, sources in the governor's office said the decision was based on his personal preference as a strict vegetarian and did not restrict the food choices of other employees.

AICC general secretary K C Venugopal strongly criticised the reported directive, alleging that the governor had overstepped his authority by imposing his dietary preferences on the kitchen.

Highlighting Keralam's diverse food culture and abundant fish resources as a coastal state, Venugopal said people were free to choose between vegetarian and non-vegetarian diets.

"Any attempt to restrict the food habits Keralites are accustomed to or dictate what they should eat from now on cannot be accepted," he said.

Venugopal argued that restrictions interfering with food choices and traditional ways of life violated fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution. He also questioned the use of a constitutional office to impose an individual's personal preferences on others.

"This is a continuation of the unconstitutional interests of the Sangh Parivar. This is the first step towards implementing the saffron agenda of the Sangh Parivar in Keralam," the Alappuzha MP alleged.

While acknowledging Mathur's right to follow a vegetarian diet, Venugopal said the governor should withdraw any decision restricting food choices at the official residence, where Keralites were employed.

Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala also criticised the reported move, describing food preferences as a matter of individual freedom.

"What one should wear, which language one should speak and what one should eat were all matters of individual freedom," he told reporters.

"Let us eat what we want to eat," he added.

CPM state secretary M V Govindan echoed the criticism, saying people in India had the democratic right to choose their food.

"Attempts are being made to take away this right. Behind these efforts is the Sangh Parivar agenda of communal polarisation," he alleged.

Govindan further accused certain groups of attempting to turn food into a "communal weapon".

Meanwhile, sources in the Lok Bhavan clarified that Mathur had directed the kitchen where his meals were prepared not to cook non-vegetarian food. The kitchen reportedly catered to the governor and a few members of his personal staff.

Other Lok Bhavan employees either brought food from home or ate outside, and no restrictions had been imposed on their dietary choices, the sources said.

They added that fish and meat dishes had been prepared in the Lok Bhavan kitchen during the tenure of some previous governors.

Mathur was sworn in at a ceremony at Lok Bhavan on Friday morning, with Kerala High Court Chief Justice Soumen Sen administering the oath of office. He succeeds Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, who has been appointed Governor of Tamil Nadu.