Nepal media quotes waiter claiming Cong chief ate non-veg; hotel officials deny report
Rahul Gandhi’s Kailash Mansarovar Yatra visit has courted controversy after reports surfaced in the Nepal media that he had eaten non-vegetarian food en route to the pilgrim site on August 31 when he had stopped over at Kathmandu.
A Hindi website quoting a waiter of Vootoo restaurant where Rahul stopped for food said the Congress chief had ordered and liked the dish ‘Chicken Kurkure’. Though the restaurant has denied the report, saying that Rahul had ordered “pure vegetarian food items” from the hotel’s menu, BJP’s information technology initiatives in-charge Amit Malviya tweeted the report link with a comment, “Gandhi and the Congress are constantly playing with the faith of Hindus”.
“There has been plenty of enquiries from the media regarding the food ordered by Rahul, president of Indian National Congress during his visit at Vootoo. We would like to clarify that he ordered pure veg items. Vootoo has not given any statement to any media regarding the food items ordered by him...,”the restaurant said in a Facebook post.
This is not for the first time that Rahu’s food habit during religious pilgrimages has come under the BJP’s scanner. Seven months ago, during Karnataka elections, the BJP had not shied away from targeting Rahul for allegedly eating chicken before visiting a temple.
Rahul is scheduled to be back in Delhi on September 12 after 12-day pilgrim, party sources said.
On August 31, when Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala had announced that Rahul is to take pilgrimage to Kailash Mansarovar, aimed at seeking the blessing of lord Shiva for prosperity and success of the country, the BJP was quick to react alleging the Congress chief wanted Chinese ambassador to give him a ceremonial send-off and accused him of holding brief for China everywhere like a “Chinese Spokesperson”.
BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra sought to know from the Congress as to which politicians and officials Rahul will meet during his visit to China, “his favourite country”. Patra did not comment on Rahul’s pilgrimage, saying it is a personal visit. ‘Kailash Mansarovar’ falls in China. Surjewala had hit back and accused the BJP of trying to create “hurdles” in the yatra, saying by doing so they have invited lord Shiva’s wrath.
(With inputs from agencies)