Overview
- India’s first Vande Bharat sleeper, flagged off on January 17, lists only vegetarian meals on the Howrah–Kamakhya route with no fish or meat.
- TMC leaders call the decision an affront to Bengal’s food traditions and demand that passengers be able to choose non-vegetarian options.
- West Bengal BJP president Samik Bhattacharya says food choice is personal and should be raised with Indian Railways, even as some BJP leaders back adding fish.
- An Eastern Railway official says the menu was set by the Railway Board and the Northeast Frontier Railway, and IRCTC published the listings.
- Passengers have complained about the lack of a non-veg option and the absence of a ‘no-food’ choice on this service, and Railways has not issued a detailed response.