Air India In Fresh Row As Congress MP Criticises 'Hindu' And 'Moslem' Meal Categories For Flights

Congress MP from Virudhunagar, Manickam Tagore critcised Air India over labelling meals on the basis of religion.

Congress MP from Virudhunagar, Manickam Tagore critcised Air India over labelling meals on the basis of religion. ( Image Source :PTI )

Air India appears to be headed towards a fresh row as Congress MP from Virudhunagar, Manickam Tagore critcised the airline over its way of labelling meals on the basis of religion. The Congress MP shared a screenshot of Air India's website in a post on X on Monday and questioned, "What's a Hindu meal and a Moslem meal?"

He further questioned if the 'Sanghis' had captured Air India and demanded action from the Ministry of Civil Aviation.

This comes after an Air India passenger shared his horifying experience of finding a metal blade in his in-flight meal.

Hindu meal, Moslem meal at @airindia flights.
What's a Hindu Meal and Moslem Meal?

Have Sanghis captured Air India?

Hope the new @MoCA_GoI takes action. pic.twitter.com/JTEYWPViYX

— Manickam Tagore .B🇮🇳மாணிக்கம் தாகூர்.ப (@manickamtagore) June 17, 2024

Labelling the meals on the basis of religion instead of dietary preference has sparked questions, even after Air India specifies in its Non-vegetarian meal that it does not serve beef or pork.

What The Website Says

According to Air India's website, the dining experience page consists of lists, detailing the airline's in-flight meals, from where the passenger can choose.

The page mentions that the airline offers a range of meal choices that "consider the richness of Indian and international cuisines". 

"We offer delectable delights for all." Air India offers meal preferences from diabetic meals to child meals, however, the religion-based named meals are the ones that have raised concern.

The description for the "Hindu meal" says that it is for the passengers belonging to Hindu community, adding, "menus prepared in an Indian cuisine style may include chicken, fish, eggs, vegetables, starches, or dairy products."

On the other hand, the "Moslem meal" specifies: "For passengers from the Moslem community, menus prepared in an Indian cuisine style are prepared per Muslim dietary requirements in a certified halal kitchen."

Both the meals have no major difference other than the fact that the "Moslem" ones are made in a halal certified kitchen.

There is another meal that is named "Non-vegeterian meal". The descirption for this meal reads: "Passengers requesting this meal may be offered the non-vegetarian option in varying cuisine styles from our inflight menu. On Air India flights, beef, pork and their by-products are not served."

Air India also serves Kosher and Jain meals. While jain meals are prepared as per the dietary preferences of Jain, which do not contain any ingredient that is a root vegetable, including garlic, onion, or any animal product.

For the Kosher meal category, the meals are available on specific internatioal flights and are prepared as per Jewish dietary requirements, made in a certified Kosher kitchen.

'From Indian Meal To Hindu Meal?'

After the Congress MP shared about this on X, several social media users began reacting to it.

While a user questioned what a Hindu meal is, another wrote: "From Indian meal to Hindu meal.. btw, Air India now managed by Tata right?"

Another social media user took a jibe at Air India and tweeted, "So nice Air India, u stepped up one step ahead of all RW, religion and food!!!"

However, a social media user said that this was a common practice amongst international airlines since Hindu non-vegeterians do not eat beef and Hindu vegeterian does not eat eggs.

"So they are carrying fwd the international travel definition to local too probably bcos common kitchen," the tweet read.

Quite common in international airlines. bcos Hindu nonvegtrn does not eat beef (universally meat eaters do). Hindu vegetarian does not eat eggs (universally vegetarians do).

So they are carrying fwd the international travel definition to local too probably bcos common kitchen

— psankar (@psankar) June 17, 2024