UP minister’s dinner at dalit home kicks up row
AGRA: State cabinet minister Suresh Rana sparked a row after he allegedly ate food ordered from an eatery during his visit to a dalit family in Aligarh on Monday night as part of the BJP government’s dalit outreach programme.
AGRA: State cabinet minister Suresh Rana sparked a row after he allegedly ate food ordered from an eatery during his visit to a dalit family in Aligarh on Monday night as part of the BJP government’s dalit outreach programme.
The minister and his supporters reached the house of a dalit, Rajneesh Kumar Singh, in Lohgarh village of Khair assembly constituency on Monday night.
He was there as part of the BJP’s initiative under which party leaders, including ministers, are visiting villages to connect with dalit community. The leaders are also staying in villages dominated by dalits and dining with dalit families.
However, the food served to Rana and his supporters kicked up a controversy as it was not home cooked but ordered allegedly from an eatery.
“Lohgarh village is dominated by dalits. As the village pradhan and local MLA are also dalits, they had organised the programme at a larger scale. As it was not possible for host family to cook food for so many people at home, the host got it prepared from elsewhere,” Rana said. “I do not find anything wrong in this. The entire controversy is meaningless,” he added.
Rajneesh, at whose house the minister had dined, claimed he was not aware that the minister would visit his house.
“The minister and his supporters reached my house at about 11 pm. The entire arrangement and preparation of food was done at a community centre near my house. As the minister had to dine at my house, food was brought from the community centre and served at my house,” Rajneesh maintained.
As it was not possible for host family to cook food for so many people at home, the host got it prepared from elsewhere. “I do not find anything wrong in this.
SURESH RANA, minister
The minister and his supporters reached my house at about 11 pm. The entire arrangement and preparation of food was done at a community centre near my house. RAJNEESH, Host
The minister and his supporters were served dal makhni, matar paneer, pulao, tandoori roti and nan besides gulab jamun. The guests were also served bottled mineral water.