Smriti Irani walks into Starbucks with zero security, stands in a queue, orders like anyone of us

NEW DELHI: A minister walking into a coffee shop and standing in a queue to order might not be a big deal for people in many countries.

But in India, where the VVIP culture of blinking sirens and traffic blocks for ministers to pass in a jiffy is the order of the day, it certainly makes eyes pop.

Smriti Irani, who was recently all over social media for wearing handloom, has once again caught the frenzy of the Twitterati.

She was spotted at a Starbucks coffee shop in Delhi's Connaught Place, standing in a queue and waiting for her turn to order.

The photo was shared by Delhi-based writer Nimish Dubey on his Facebook profile. Nimish claims that it is not the first time that she has been spotted at this coffee shop, and ordering like anyone of us.




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"You can poke fun at her for all you like. But we have been seeing her at Starbucks time and again. She comes on her own. Stands in a queue. Politely places her order. Goes to take it herself. And leaves quietly. No fuss, no entourage, no security. There are not too many ministers like that. Ladies and gentlemen, Smriti Irani," he wrote in his post.

Here is @smritiirani having coffee at Starbucks, CP without any security Tamjham.... pic.twitter.com/Qe8ZVZueuC

— Jaini (@manichejain) August 7, 2016

Many people on the social media have lauded the minister's humility and have said that this indeed is a welcome change.

Nimish had shared another post on May 7, in which he talked about spotting the minister with her daughter at a Starbucks cafe in South Delhi's Vasant Kunj. Again, he mentions that she walked in with no security and entourage.

She is Union textile minister @smritiirani who was waiting for her order in Starbucks. Simplicity at its peak. pic.twitter.com/1Xk8WQwBaE

— AMIT BANSAL (@amit7794) August 7, 2016

In May 2016, Irani was to be given 'Z' category security with armed commandos guarding her in view of increased threat perception to her life after students' protests following the suicide of Dalit research scholar Rohith Vemula.

Currently, the minister enjoys 'Y' security cover which mandates presence of 11 security personnel with her at all times.