A controversy has erupted after journalist Aarti Tikoo Singh accused airline Vistara of communalizing food by labeling meals as ‘Hindu Meal’ and ‘Muslim Meal’. Singh’s post on social media platform X questioned Vistara’s rationale behind naming vegetarian meals as ‘Hindu’ and chicken meals as ‘Muslim’. She argued that these labels perpetuate stereotypes, implying all Hindus are vegetarian and all Muslims are non-vegetarian, and called on the Ministry of Civil Aviation to investigate. The post has quickly gone viral, sparking widespread debate.
Former R&AW chief Vikram Sood criticized the practice as dangerous, while another user described the labels as misleading and demanded their immediate removal. However, Sanjay Lazar, CEO of Avialaz, clarified in defense of Vistara that in aviation, a Hindu Meal (HNML) can include non-vegetarian options not prepared in accordance with Halal standards, and a Muslim Meal (MOML) is a non-vegetarian meal that is Halal. He further explained that vegetarian meals are clearly designated with distinct codes separate from HNML or MOML labels.
Sanjiv Kapoor, the former CEO-designate of Jet Airways, added that these meal codes are standardized across airlines using global reservation systems like Amadeus to maintain consistency. He noted that low-cost carriers, which operate on different systems, may use varied codes.
The clarification provided by industry veterans underscores a broader industry practice, albeit it does little to quell the strong reactions from the public urging for a reevaluation of these terms. The debate highlights enduring sensitivities around food and religious identity within the airline industry.
Original Story https://www.livemint.com/news/trends/absurd-dangerous-netizens-react-as-woman-asks-vistara-why-vegetarian-meals-called-hindu-and-non-veg-meamusli-11724840984622.html
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