Kerala Governor Sparks Row by Banning Meat in Official Residence Kitchen

A directive by the new governor of India's Kerala state to serve only vegetarian food at his official residence has triggered political backlash from the opposition.

The newly appointed governor of India's southern state of Kerala, Om Prakash Mathur, has ignited a political controversy after ordering on his first day in office that only vegetarian food be prepared in the kitchen of his official residence, Lok Bhavan. This was reported by Indian network NDTV and newspaper Amar Ujala.

The directive prompted sharp criticism from opposition figures. Senior Congress party leader K. C. Venugopal condemned the decision, accusing the governor of imposing the ideological agenda of the Hindu nationalist Sangh Parivar. Venugopal stressed that the governor's constitutional role requires him to uphold rights guaranteed by the constitution, including the freedom of individuals to choose what they eat.

Further details regarding any response from the governor's office or additional changes to residence protocols have not yet been released.