Venugopal Criticises Kerala Governor Over Reported Ban on Meat and Fish in Lok Bhavan Kitchen

The controversy emerged barely an hour after Mathur took oath as Kerala's 29th Governor, following his tenure as Governor of Sikkim.

In a social media post, Venugopal accused the Governor of attempting to restrict food freedom and said Kerala's diverse culinary traditions should be respected.

“Those who snatched votes and struck at the very roots of a citizen's democratic rights are now preparing to take away food freedom as well,” Venugopal said.

He pointed out that Kerala, a coastal state with abundant fish resources, has a long-standing tradition of consuming fish and other non-vegetarian food alongside vegetarian cuisine.

“Any attempt to restrict the food habits of Malayalis or dictate what they should eat from now on cannot be accepted,” he said.

Congress leader invokes constitutional freedoms

Venugopal said Mathur was free to follow his personal dietary preferences but argued that these should not dictate the food served in the Lok Bhavan kitchen, which also caters to employees from Kerala.

The Congress leader alleged that imposing such restrictions would undermine individual liberty and raise concerns about fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution.

He also linked the reported directive to what he described as the ideological agenda of the Sangh Parivar, alleging that it represented an attempt to introduce saffron politics into Kerala.

Warning against the broader implications of the reported move, Venugopal said restrictions introduced at Lok Bhavan could influence other institutions and encourage uniformity in people's lifestyles.

“Food freedom is the right of every individual. The Governor of Kerala must withdraw from any action that curtails this freedom,” he said.

Venugopal added that constitutional officeholders must recognise that the Constitution protects people's freedom to make decisions about their food and way of life.

Mathur takes oath as Kerala Governor

Mathur was sworn in as Kerala's Governor at a ceremony in Thiruvananthapuram on Friday. Kerala High Court Chief Justice Soumen Sen administered the oath in the presence of Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan, Speaker Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, ministers and elected representatives.

Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan was absent from the ceremony.

The reported dietary directive prompted criticism from Venugopal soon after Mathur assumed office. The details of the directive and any response from the Governor's office were not included in the statement.