Is There A Casteist History Behind 'No Onion No Garlic' Food? | Nirmala Sitharaman

Amid the uproar over the rising onion prices in India, financial minister Nirmala Sitharaman sparked another controversy over her recent statement in Parliament. Sitharaman said,
"I don't eat much of onion and garlic. I come from such a family which doesn't have much to do with onion."
Her statement wasn't appreciated by the people with many calling it 'insensitive' and 'casteist'. Some also called it an attempt to impose food practices of the dominant community on the rest.
#NirmalaSitharaman #OnionPriceHike

Watch More Videos By InUth:

The Indian Express Online covers all latest and trending news across India, which includes political news, mobile launches, gadgets reviews, technology updates, Entertainment News, Bollywood news, public opinions and views on daily trends.

Connect with us:

[Sadiqags]

I have seen in my childhood the maharashtrian agriculture labor eat one onion and one chilli with bhakry as their diet and were so stronger that they easily lift two to three 50kg bags of grain on their soulders. Such was the strength i have seen in these people who are having such diet.

[RanjithKumar-vbfu]

Yes .. cast, religion everything..by this government. Shameless modi. Bip

[deepakhb]

I have observed lot of her strongly feel she has some mental is not normal.

[veervenkat]

Yes of course. Her egoistic comment was clearly to take pride of her caste background. She could deny it but we know it very well.

[muskansiddikee]

Indian citizen: onion prices are hiking up reduce it .
Indian politicians: I don't have to do much with onion and garlic so....

[kpmuhammed]

Nirmala maami is brahmin.
Bjp is brahmin janata party
and hinduism is brahmanism.

[Babu_BLR]

While we can can give her the benefit of doubt and say it was just a casual comeback to a sarcastic question, she still needs to be careful before making such a statement.She is the finance minister and such a statement at a time when onion prices are soaring, is in bitter taste.
Coming to the caste question, surely the upper caste Hindus are averse to eating onion and garlic.But its more of a personal choice for them to maintain their so called "superiority" over the commoners.Apart from the Akshay Patra incident, where they denied to kids, onions in mid day meals, I have not seen them trying to force anyone to not eat onion or garlic.So its probably fine, as long as they keep this tradition to themselves. We should not fight for silly things.

[Sudhirroy_]

Hahaha bhakt v nhi khate honge aab onion 😂

[dipanjan]

Forget about SC/st. I am from general category and I see the arrogance and superiority complex with which brahmins present themselves (some of my cousins are brahmin). Even during marriage alliances. They are hypocrites and the biggest threat to Hinduism other than radical islam.

[abilashdeepak]

Obviously...she’s a Brahmin...and Tamil Brahmins don’t include much onion and garlic in their cooking!!

[prithvirajdj]

& who can intervene? The speaker? 😅😅

[sohailshaikh]

you dont eat onion thats fine.. But those who eat it are equal citizen of India.. Do your duties as Finance Minister otherwise get the hell out that office.. tere Baap kaa nahi hai wo office hum Bhartiyo ke vote se Bharat bantaa hai..

[k.ganesanganesan]

Cast creed community sex Food. Don't link. The words are against social structure of India.

[abhi]

she has just answered the question asked to her on the cosumption...don't make it a
big deal..

[mohithpm]

It was utterly casteist...a sect of tambrams..and her language..families like was not called upon...

[ramprakashgiri.]

A fine example of How to Cook News.
Keep It Up, Keep Serving the Desired

[Godyahova]

Half info is always dangerous someone tell her shiv bhakt and shiv used to eat and accept meat go read vedas.. Only vishnu Or mata bhakti eat saptvik not warrior Or other people.. The warrior used to eat tamas and even hanuman ji pe bhi mast chadta he Or Rajasthan normal log khate the .. Wheat andmore Or teeno bhagwan ke banaye to khane ke lie hi banaye he bus use alag alag he jarurat hisab se tools he bus samajhlo he wise.. BJP congress. . Itna tattva Or gun gyan de rhai ho to sach bhi to jano fir

[narutogluffy]

😂😂😂vaishnavism casteism seriously?
It opposed caste system, Read bhagavathgita first and some history also. U only read them with half knowledge. This is called real stereotype.

[crajeshreddy]

Just a note. Its been blownup unnecessarily, she meant it in her personal view...

[suvify]

Someone asked if she eats onions. To that she answered.

Her remark was not for the onion price hike. When we have above average rains, onions get destroyed in large quantities. The shortage of onions causes the price hike.

The government in this situation has only one option, that is to import onions. It has already taken those steps.