PM Modi eats a “millet-only” lunch with Mallikarjun Kharge and other MPs in Parliament.
Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi ate with Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge and other parliamentarians at a special “millet-only” lunch on Parliament grounds. The lunch was hosted by Union Minister Narendra Tomar.
PM Modi wrote on Twitter, “As we get ready to make 2023 the International Year of Millets, I attended a delicious lunch in Parliament where millet dishes were served. It’s good to see people from different parties taking part.”
As we prepare to mark 2023 as the International Year of Millets, attended a sumptuous lunch in Parliament where millet dishes were served. Good to see participation from across party lines. pic.twitter.com/PjU1mQh0F3
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 20, 2022
Modi was seen having lunch with Tomar, Kharge, the Minister of Defense Rajnath Singh, and the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, Jagdeep Dhankar.
“Chefs from Karnataka were brought in especially to make roti and sweets out of jowar, bajra, and ragi,” said Minister of State for Agriculture Shobha Karandlaje to the news agency ANI.
Earlier in the day, Modi told MPs at a meeting of the BJP parliamentary party to work to promote millets. According to Union minister Pralhad Joshi, he told BJP members, “Since over 85% of Indian farmers are small farmers and grow a lot of millets, a rise in the consumption of these grains will help them make money.”
The PM also said that 2023 has been named the International Year of Millets by the United Nations at the request of his government. He called for people to eat more of these nutritious grains.
He also said that millets will be on the menu for the many G-20 meetings where tens of thousands of foreign delegates are expected to attend. India is currently the chair of the G-20. He also said that these can be used in schools, homes, anganwadis, and government meetings. He suggested that MPs include millets in their own meetings as well.
(With inputs from agencies)
