Passenger Complains Over 'Halal Tea' Served In Vande Bharat Express, Video Goes Viral

A video has gone viral of a passenger complaining about being served "halal" tea on an Indian Railways coach. The incident took place on the Vande Bharat Express, and the passenger, who is Hindu, was concerned about the religious implications of consuming food that has been certified halal.

In the video, the passenger can be seen speaking to an official from Indian Railways who is trying to reassure him that the tea is vegetarian. However, the passenger is not satisfied with this answer, and he repeatedly asks why the tea has been certified halal. He also points out that it is the month of Sawan, a Hindu holy month, and that he believes that consuming halal food during this time would be sacrilegious.

"Sawan ka mahina chal raha hai, aap halal chai pila rahe hain (You are serving halal tea during the month of Sawan)," he says.

The official from Indian Railways tries to pacify him, confirming that the tea is, indeed, vegetarian. "Chai vegetarian hi hota hai, sir (Tea is vegetarian only)," the staff member reassures.

However, the passenger is not convinced, and he continues to express his concerns about the religious implications of consuming halal food. "We don't want religious certifications... such certifications hurt our religious sentiments," he said.

During the exchange, the official mentions the green dot, which signifies that the product is vegetarian. But even this does not put the passenger at ease, and he continues to express his dissatisfaction.

The video has sparked discussions on social media, with some users criticizing the quality of the products served by IRCTC (Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation).

One Twitter user complained about the downgrade in service, mentioning that instead of a better brand like Frooti, a substandard product was served at the same rate.

Another user opined that such certifications, including the 'Veg' certification, should be removed, allowing passengers to judge whether the food they are being served is vegetarian or not.