Prime Minister Narendra Modi takes lunch in Parliament Canteen

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi added another first to his credit by having lunch at the canteen for meant for MPs in Parliament House. In the process, he created some flutter both inside and outside the canteen. Modi settled for a simple vegetarian meal and a fruit salad that cost him Rs 29 and left the canteen after writing, “anna data, sukhi bhav” (blessings to the one who feeds) in the visitors’ suggestion book.

Old timers insist this was the first such visit to the canteen by a serving prime minister. The last time there was a VVIP dining was when Rajiv Gandhi visited the canteen, but as former Prime Minister.

According to the insiders account, after his surprise entry into the dining room, the Modi spent some time greeting some MPs who were already dining there and accepted greetings from them and the staff. He then settled down at a table, along with two BJP MPs. Power Minister Piyush Goyal joined them soon.

“Anything special, sir,” canteen incharge BL Purohit reportedly asked Modi, when he was placing the order. “No, I want normal vegetarian thali,” Modi replied. He also ordered a fruit salad. The dishes of the day for the vegetarian thali consisted of palak sabzi, rajma, dal and salad. This was served along with rice and a tandoori roti. The Prime Minister also settled for normal filtered water. After spending around 25 minutes and when he was about leave, Modi was also requested by the canteen in-charge to write something in the suggestion book, which he presented to him.

During Parliament session, the PM and most Union Cabinet ministers eat in their allotted rooms on the first floor or return to their homes or ministries during lunch break. In Parliament House, the the Prime Minister’s Office is located on room No. 10 on the ground floor.

Though MPs have two dining rooms on the first floor of Parliament House, some ministers and senior MPs prefer to have their food in the Central Hall. Some years ago, Sonia Gandhi joined BJP’s Jaswant Singh for a coffee at Centrall Hall, after Singh spotted her walking past and requested her to join him for a cup of coffee.