With the number of high-profile south Indian personalities, including former Union minister A. Raja and DMK chief’s daughter Kanimozhi, lodged now in Tihar Jail in connection with the 2G scam, the jail authorities are now trying to “popularise” south Indian dishes among Tihar inmates.
“For the last couple of months, the jail administration has been trying to change the menu so that everybody get the taste of south Indian food in the jail canteen,” Mr Amit Kumar Singh, commandant, Tamil Nadu special police, that is in charge of external security of Tihar jail, told this newspaper on Sunday.
The canteen of jail number one, four and six now serves both north and south Indian cuisine, including dosas, uthappams, idlis with sambhar and coconut chutney among other dishes.
South Indian cuisine first appeared in the list of the canteen menu of jail number one in February after former communications minister A. Raja was lodged there for his alleged role in 2G spectrum allocation scam, sources in the jail said.
“Two cooks from Tamil Nadu special police trained the canteen chefs in the art of south Indian culinary in February end. But it has nothing to do with the presence of 2G scam accused,” claimed Mr Amit Kumar Singh.
The canteen of the prisons earlier served “cholay bhaturay”, “puri sabzi”, “namkeen”, “samosas”, sandwiches and tea.
According to Mr Sunil Gupta, PRO-cum-law officer of the Tihar Jail, the administration wanted to diversify the variety and popularise south Indian cuisine. “It is not the first time we are serving south Indian food in the canteen. But now we got more varieties,” he said.
The officials also noted that most of the high profile accused jailed in connection with the 2G scam are getting home cooked food. Sources also said that following the increase of south Indian cuisine in the menu inside the three jails, it has also become a favourite with other inmates as well.