Uttar Pradesh: BJP minister in soup over halwai-cooked meal at Dalit home

Another BJP minister has landed himself in a controversy.

Aligarh: Another Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) minister has landed himself in a controversy. This time, it's Suresh Rana – a cabinet member of Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government. 

Rana was caught on camera eating food cooked by a halwai (caterer), instead of sharing a homemade meal cooked by the Dalit family. 

The incident took place in Aligarh's Lohagadh on Monday night after the minister landed up on the doorsteps of a Dalit family for a 'surprise visit'. The visit was in line with patry's Dalit outreach programme initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

While the minister is seen enjoying his meal with the family, later footage shows him eating food pre-cooked by halwai and not by the Dalit family. The clip has gone viral on social media.

“I didn't even know they are coming for dinner. They came suddenly. All food, water and cutlery they had arranged from outside,” said Rajnish Kumar, Dalit man at whose house the UP Minister had dinner.

Many other BJP leaders were also filmed eating the restaurant food. 

The elaborate meal spread consisted of paneer items, dal makhni, pulao, tandoori roti and gulab jamun. Mineral water bottles and water pouches were also seen on tables.

Later, villagers confirmed to Zee News that the food was ordered by the minister's team from village halwai beforehand. 

Rana reportedly denied the allegations and claimed that the family was aware of his visit.

Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb were recently caught in the line of fire past over remarks made by them. 

Rupani had equated Google with Hindu mythological character Narada Muni who “never gave information that would harm humanity.”

The Tripura CM on Tuesday said that anyone poking at his government's functioning style will get their nails cut. He earlier claimed that only civil engineers should become civil servants. In another statement, he said that Aishwarya Rai represents Indian beauty, not former Miss World Diana Hayden.