The royal dinner Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted in the honour of US President Donald Trump’s Adviser and daughter Ivanka Trump and 1,500 other delegates of Global Entrepreneurship Summit at the magnificent Falaknuma Palace of Hyderabad not only gave a taste of the traditional Hyderabadi hospitality and its rich cuisine but also left a trail of controversy behind.
Both Modi and Ivanka came almost an hour late to the Falakunuma Palace by road in heavily guarded security cavalcade and Ivanka was taken around the Nizam-era Palace and shown its breathtakingly beautiful features and architectural splendour.
After a glittering cultural programme on the stairs of the Palace, which include Kathak dance and a fusion performance featuring various regional dance forms, Ivanka was taken to the world’s largest dining table, the unique highlight of the Palace.
While the host, Modi, was at the head of the table on one side with Ivanka seating on his right and Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on the left, Telengana Governor ESl Narasimhan was at the head of the table on the other end.
Modi’s Cabinet colleagues Sushma Swaraj and Nirmala Sitharaman, Telangana Minister for Information Technology K Tarakarama Rao, prominent industrialists and businessmen Adi Godrej, Sunil Mittal and Tata Sons chairman Chandrasekharan were among the guests who were seated on the high table while the other delegates had their dinner on the sprawling green lawns with the Palace providing the
backdrop.
Sources presented at the dinner said Ivanka was bowled over by the opulence and ambience of the Palace and the royal treatment given to her by the hosts, including the showering of flower petals as she arrived at the Palace doorsteps in a horse-driven cart.
The fabulous spread of dishes from Nizami kitchen included both non-vegetarian and vegetarian dishes. The multi-course dinner started with a specially prepared soup “Makai Badam ka Shorba” and Shikampur Kabab with Sheermaal, the main course included Murgh Shikanja, Sunheri Jhinga, Murgh Pista curry, Samak Shehzadi, Haleem, Biryani Ameer Khwani and Qubani Ka Meetha.
Even the vegetarian dishes like Chatpate Aaloo, Anardaana Do Pyaza and Dal-e-Ada had a Deccani touch.
Sources said that Ivanka was all praise for the delicious and rich fare, she preferred other dishes over the famed Hyderabadi Biryani.
Chandrasekhar Rao presented her carefully chosen gifts, including a memento of Charminar in filigree works crafted by the artisans of Karimnagar district and a special saree. The Prime Minister presented Ivanka a wooden box of Sadeli Craft made by the craftsmen of Surat.
The CM also presented a replica of Kakatiya arch to the PM and a wooden veena to Sushma Swaraj.
While everything inside the hall went smoothly, there was a storm brewing outside. The Special Protection Group, responsible for the security of the PM and the officials of PMO were in for a shock when they heard that the dinner was being telecast live by a local TV channel in violation of the security and protocol norms.
On an alert from the SPG director AK Sinha, Additional Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister PK Misra contacted Telangana Director General of Police M Mahendar Reddy and expressed his strong displeasure over the breach of security.
Hyderabad Police commissioner V Srinivas Rao, who was present at the dinner immediately directed his officials to end the live transmission. He also ordered an enquiry into the source of the live feed.
There was speculation that the channel had got a the live feed form the Police Control Room to which the surveillance cameras installed in the hotel were linked.
Commissioner confirmed receiving a call from the SPG officials objecting to the live transmission but said he did not know form where the feed was taken. He pointed out that many guests were also making videos inside the hotel.
While feasting was on the police also received a threatening call that a bomb was planted in the Falaknuma hotel creating a scare. However the police and security teams combed the hotel and did not find anything. Officials said that the call was a hoax. Search was on for the mysterious caller.