The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has criticized the BJP-led central government for not providing non-vegetarian food options on the new Vande Bharat sleeper train running between West Bengal and Assam. The party accused the government of “policing our plates” after the train’s menu included only vegetarian meals, despite both regions’ strong culinary traditions involving fish and meat.
As per a report in News18.
Indian Railways explained that the decision to exclude non-vegetarian items was based on the train connecting two religious sites, the Maa Kamakhya Temple in Assam and the Maa Kali Temple in West Bengal, and emphasized that the menu offers healthy, hygienic, and purely vegetarian food. However, critics pointed out that animal sacrifice has historically been part of worship practices at these temples.
The Kamakhya-Howrah Vande Bharat Sleeper Express, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 17, began commercial operations recently. The semi-high-speed train features 16 coaches across three classes and is designed for overnight travel, aiming to improve comfort and reduce travel time between the two states.
The TMC linked the exclusion of non-vegetarian food to broader cultural and political issues, accusing the central government of imposing a homogenized identity on Bengal and suppressing its pluralistic traditions. The party also referenced recent incidents of violence related to food choices in the region.
No official response from the central government regarding the TMC’s allegations has been reported, and the current meal policy on the train remains unchanged.
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