Parliament’s canteen for MPs that remains abuzz with chitchats and clatter of plates suddenly fell silent due to a surprise entry on Monday. It was Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The PM, for a change, decided to taste the subsidised food served at Parliament canteen, run by Indian Railway Catering Tourism Corporation. Modi had two MPs for company: BJP MP from Bihar Chhedi Paswan and Gujarat’s Mansukhbhai Vasava. There were about 18 MPs having lunch at that time sitting in small groups on different tables in Room Number 70, when Modi landed there at 1 pm.
“So how are things in BiharIJ” the PM asked Chhedi Paswan. Then, he turned towards the canteen staff — who were taken aback by his sudden arrival — and said, “Kuchh khana khila doh (please give me some food).” The Prime Minister asked for water and fruit salad to begin with. “Anything special, Sir,” canteen in-charge Bl Purohit asked. But the Prime Minister made it clear he wanted to make no fuss about his lunch. “No, I want normal vegetarian thali,” Modi replied.
Soon a thali consisting of sarson ka saag, aloo subji, rajma, rice, roti and curd was served to him. The PM ate and chatted with the two MPs casually even as more members dropped in to introduce themselves. Union Minister Piyush Goyal too joined in. Once through, the Prime Minister asked for bill. “The total bill for the food was Rs29. He gave a note of Rs100 and I returned Rs71,” said waiter Rama Shankar, who attended Modi.
Modi stayed in canteen for about 20 to 25 minutes. Realising that it was a “historic” occasion, Purohit requested the Prime Minister to write his comments in the Suggestion Book. “Annadata, sukhi bhav (May the provider of food be happy),” wrote Modi in Hindi and signed it. Parliament sources said this was the first time a Prime Minister had lunch in the canteen as a customer. Rajiv Gandhi had once eaten in the canteen but not as the Prime Minister.
When asked about comments on Modi lunch, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said that having subsidised food in Parliament canteen is fine but at the same time the Prime Minister should also think about the poor people who cannot get a proper meal of the day due to rising prices and how the housewives are managing their family affairs in tough times.