My Nation: Bangalore/ New Delhi: ISKCON's Akshaya Patra Foundation, which provides midday meals to 4.43 lakh children every day in Karnataka, has been asked by the HD Kumaraswamy government to add onion and garlic to the food it serves. Why? Because the state government believes these two ingredients will significantly boost the nutritional value and taste of the foods served to the children. Even if that is against the religious belief of the organisation. And as if those are the only ingredients that can boost nutritional value!
This controversy has been cooked up by the JD(S) government of which the Congress is an ally.
According to the rules and beliefs of the Akshaya Patra Foundation, only ‘satvik’ ('pure') foods are prepared and served. Onion and garlic don't find a place in that category; they are considered 'tamasik' (inducing negativity) and are hence not included in the meals served by the foundation.
As a result of the harsh order, the foundation has discontinued its partnership with the Karnataka government for the midday meal scheme, refusing to sign the memorandum of understanding (MoU), reported DNA.
