By India Tomorrow Correspondent,
New Delhi, 15 April 2014: Considered to be the most liberal media house in the country, The Hindu has issued a circular that goes contrary to its perception. The reputed English national daily has asked its employees not to bring non-veg food into the dining halls as “it causes discomfort to the majority of the employees who are vegetarian.”
“There have been complaints from employees that some of the fellow employees are bringing non-veg food into our canteen and eating in the dinner hall. All are aware non-veg food is not permitted in our Canteen premises at it causes discomfort to the majority of the employees who are vegetarian,” reads the circular dated 10 April 2014.
The daily asked its employees to desist from bringing non-veg food into the dining halls.
“It is once again reiterated that non-veg food is strictly prohibited inside our dining hall therefore employees are advised to desist from bringing non veg food into the dining halls,” says the circular signed by C Sreetharan, Vice President, Human Resources department of the daily.
The circular has gone viral on social networking sites inviting harsh criticism for the daily. Many said the paper is imposing Brahmin culture on its employees.
Manjula Narayan tweeted her reaction: “The Hindu might as well have put up employment notice saying “Only Brahmins need apply” hehe “But we will continue 2 fight for the downtrodden.”
A tweet from Meena Kandasamy read: “The Hindu bans meat from its canteens and dining halls, renames itself, The Brahmin.”
A body of journalists has opposed the daily’s restrictions on choice of food.
“Dictating this way to its employees is not justified. If drink and smoke are not allowed then it is okay but how someone can restrict employees what to eat and what not to eat. It is their own rights and choice. Doing so is a violation of basic rights of employees,” Uppala Lakhman, President of National Union of Journalists and Chief Editor, HYTV channel, told India Tomorrow over phone from Hyderabad.
When we contacted the head office of The Hindu in Chennai to get their comment, they asked us to visit twitter handle of their Editor Malini Parthasarathy who has put explanation over the controversy.
On her twitter handle in last 20 hours, Malini has several times defended the circular of the daily saying it is a private company and free to regulate it.
“As I already said, we are a private company offering subsidised meals to our staff, not running a hotel,” she said one tweet.
In another, she said: “Not at all, we are not ashamed of running a purely vegetarian canteen.”
She also said defending vegetarianism is not Hindutva.
“Defending vegetarianism is by no means supporting Hindutva!” said Malini in another tweet.
