Lalu urged not to ban South Indian delicacies

Kozhikode, May 2: The Malabar Chamber of Commerce (MCC) and the Malabar Train Action Committee (MTAC) today urged Railway Minister Lalu Prasad to reconsider the Railway Ministry's move to remove South Indian delicacies from its menu.

Describing the reported move to exclude Idli, Vada and Banana Fry from the menu as ''unjustifiable,'' MCC president P Zakeer and MTAC chairman P V Gangadharan, in a memorandum to Mr Prasad said these items were not only popular among all sections of the people but easily digestable, most harmless and very convenient as well.

''We are rather surprised to note that none of the South Indian dishes has found a place among the 21 prescribed items that would be served in trains,'' as per the decision, they said.

Items such as pakora, nooddles and others, which were proposed to be included in the menu were heavily spiced and contained high fat that would tend to create stomach disorders during long distance journies, they said out.

UNI