AAP MP Sanjay Singh's Wife Slams Tejas Express Food, IRCTC Says No Other Complaints Received
After Anita Singh called the Tejas Express food 'utterly deplorable,' IRCTC said no other passengers had complained but acknowledged her feedback and assured appropriate follow-up
Anita Singh, wife of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh, has stirred a heated conversation online after she publicly criticised the quality of food served on the Tejas Express, one of Indian Railways' flagship premium trains. Posting on X (formerly Twitter), she shared an image of her in-train meal and lambasted the catering, claiming the roti was 'as hard as papad," the paneer was stale, and the dal was nothing more than water.
Her post questioned the credibility of the Tejas Express's much-publicised 'world-class" service, tagging the Railway Ministry and Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw: 'The food served on the Tejas Express was utterly deplorable. The roti was as hard as papad, the paneer was stale, and instead of dal, only water was served. Is this the railway's 'world-class' service? Stop playing with passengers' health."
PNR No 2338310371तेजस एक्सप्रेस में मिला खाना बेहद घटिया था। रोटी पापड़ जैसी सख्त, पनीर बासी और दाल की जगह सिर्फ़ पानी परोसा गया।क्या यही है रेलवे की 'वर्ल्ड क्लास" सेवा? यात्रियों की सेहत से खिलवाड़ बंद हो!
माननीय @AshwiniVaishnaw जी, कृपया संज्ञान लें। @RailMinIndia pic.twitter.com/v0t0bbwwWE
— Anita Singh (@AnitaSingh_) July 11, 2025
In a prompt response, the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) defended its services while acknowledging Anita Singh's concerns. The official reply noted that food quality is inspected before being served and that no other complaints had been reported from passengers in her coach. The IRCTC added that its onboard team had offered a replacement meal and assured that a senior official had now been appointed to ensure better compliance with food quality norms going forward.
'Concerning the feedback regarding catering services provided by you on 11/07/25 in the New Delhi-Lucknow Tejas Express train, we wish to inform you that the quality of the food is checked before serving, and no complaints in this regard have been received from other passengers in the said coach; rather, the catering has generally been appreciated. The catering team available on the train attended to you and also offered a replacement meal. Nevertheless, taking your feedback seriously and to further strengthen the quality, a senior official has been appointed to ensure compliance with all standards, and appropriate guidelines will be ensured accordingly," the IRCTC said.
महोदया,आपके द्वारा दिनाँक 11/07/25 को नई दिल्ली -लखनऊ तेजस एक्स्प्रेस ट्रेन में खानपान संबंधित फीडबैक के संदर्भ में अवगत कराना है कि भोजन की गुणवत्ता जाँच परोसने से पूर्व की जाती है और उक्त कोच से किसी और यात्रीगण की इस संबंध में कोई शिकायत प्राप्त नही हुई है, अपितु…
— IRCTC (@IRCTCofficial) July 12, 2025
Online Users Call Out IRCTC's 'Defensive Tone'
IRCTC's response failed to pacify many users online, with several accusing the railway body of deflecting legitimate criticism instead of addressing deeper, systemic issues. Many supported Anita Singh's observations, citing similar experiences on other premium trains.
One user commented: 'Unsatisfactory response by the Railways. This is not the first time concerns have been raised about food quality, mismanagement, and even misbehaviour by pantry staff. Immediate action against the vendor is needed."
Another sharply remarked: 'This reply from IRCTC exposes the rot within the system. Overcharging for meals and water is rampant across trains, not just one. Passengers do complain, but your staff turns a blind eye every time."
A third user highlighted a pattern: 'IRCTC, you can't run away from your responsibilities. I recently travelled on the Bhopal Shatabdi and faced the same issue. People don't bother complaining anymore because they know nothing will change."
A fourth added: 'IRCTC seems to be in denial. The easiest way to escape complaints is to deny them altogether."
And a fifth user noted: 'Just because others aren't complaining doesn't mean the food is of good quality. I've stopped eating pantry meals altogether—they're extremely unhygienic."
Not The First Time
This incident is not the first time passengers have raised concerns about catering on Indian trains, including premium services like the Tejas Express. While several users backed Anita Singh's criticism and shared similar experiences, others argued that individual complaints should not overshadow broader efforts to modernise railway services.
Over the past few years, Indian Railways has made visible strides in enhancing travel comfort, punctuality, and amenities—especially through trains like Tejas and Vande Bharat. However, recurring feedback on food quality highlights that consistency in service delivery remains an area for improvement. The challenge lies not just in upgrading infrastructure but also in ensuring that high standards are maintained uniformly across routes and vendors.
view comments
First Published:
July 14, 2025, 14:17 IST
Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
31 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Punjab to form 22 sector-specific panels to draft new industrial policy
The Punjab government has decided to form 22 sector-specific committees to engage with the industry for developing a new industrial policy aimed at improving the ease of doing business and accelerating industrial growth in the state. Industry and commerce minister Sanjeev Arora Industry and commerce minister Sanjeev Arora announced that the primary task of each committee will be to assess the current industrial climate in their respective sectors and provide recommendations for the new policy. These recommendations will include both fiscal and non-fiscal incentives, taking into account the state's unique structural and fiscal context. Each committee, headed by experts in the relevant sector, must submit their written recommendations within 45 days of the notification, Arora added. The state government had released its 'Industrial and Business Development Policy 2022' in February 2023. According to Arora, there will be three committees for the textile sector—spinning and weaving, apparel manufacturing, and dyeing and finishing—along with separate committees for sectors like IT, machine tools, sports and leather goods, auto components, heavy machinery, bicycles, electric vehicles (EV), renewable energy, food processing, steel and rolling mills, logistics and warehousing, tourism, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, start-ups, retail, and electronic systems design and manufacturing. Each committee will consist of 8-10 industry members and will initially operate for two years from the date of notification. Arora also met with representatives from major industry associations across the state, where he promised policy reforms to support existing industries and attract new investments. Finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema and Aam Aadmi Party Rajya Sabha member Vikramjit Singh Sahney were also present. During the meeting, industry representatives expressed gratitude for the government's long-pending one-time settlement policy, which allows the resolution of industrial plot dues in focal points with an 8% interest rate. They also raised critical issues, including the urgent need to revamp focal points and industrial zones, capping high mortgage and hypothecation fees for industrial loans, reducing the GST on bicycles from 12% to 5%, rationalising wheeling charges for solar power transmission and providing dry port container facilities for rice exporters in Amritsar. Arora assured the industry leaders that these matters would be addressed on a priority basis within a time-bound period of 45 days. Cheema also committed to raising the GST issue on bicycles at the next GST Council meeting and reviewing the discontinuation of the 2.5% fiscal incentive withdrawn in 2018. Sahney emphasised the need for faster infrastructure development in the Rajpura Industrial Zone and invited industrialists to set up units there. Representatives from CII, PHD Chamber of Commerce, FICO, CICU, Basmati Rice Exporters Association, United Cycle Parts Manufacturers Association, Hosiery Knitwear Association, Plywood Manufacturers Association, Dhandari Industrial Welfare Association, Dera Bassi Industries Association, and Mohali Industrial Association were present at the meeting.
The Hindu
6 hours ago
- The Hindu
Kejriwal bought two high-end phones beyond budget cap during AAP rule, says Sood
With the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) objecting to the increase in budget allocation for the CM and Ministers to purchase mobile phones, Delhi Education Minister Ashish Sood on Thursday alleged that AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal had bought expensive phones exceeding the budgetary allocation when he was the CM .Addressing a press conference, Mr. Sood said that in 2013, the Chief Minister was allocated ₹50,000 and Ministers ₹45,000 to purchase mobile phones. At that time, AAP leaders had purchased mobile phones 'exceeding the limit' and had pressurised the department concerned to pay the extra amount, he alleged. 'Moreover, during the COVID-19 period, Arvind Kejriwal purchased two mobile phones worth ₹1.40 lakh and ₹1.64 lakh. [Former Deputy Chief Minister] Manish Sisodia, too, purchased two phones costing ₹1.66 lakh and ₹1.37 lakh,' the Minister said. Responding to the allegations, AAP accused the BJP leaders of 'trying to cover up the corruption'. 'Kejriwalji honoured every promise he made to the people of Delhi,' the party said. Mr. Sood alleged that former Chief Minister Atishi also purchased a phone worth ₹1.27 lakh in 2023, despite being entitled to reimbursement of only ₹45,000. The Minister clarified that mobile phones are no longer an 'item of luxury', and Ministers and officials are using them to receive complaints through e-mail and WhatsApp and get updates and reports of issues faced by the people. The Delhi government has recently revised the funds for purchasing mobile phones, allocating ₹1.5 lakh for the Chief Minister and ₹1.25 lakh for Ministers.
News18
9 hours ago
- News18
Sentimentalism Is Poor Substitute For Good Governance
Last Updated: Punjab govt will be better advised to—instead of spending time and energy on constitutional, legal minutiae—focus on fiscal prudence, economic policy framework, good governanc What does our political class do when they fail on all fronts? Well, it takes recourse to religion, hoping that it could be a useful opiate to numb the cognitive and cogitative faculties of people, thus diverting their attention from the real issues. So, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab, having failed to improve the situation in the state, is trying to bring a piece of legislation to provide for stricter punishments against sacrilege, including the death penalty. 'We will be convening a special session of Vidhan Sabha on July 10 and 11 to bring a historic legislation for stricter punishment against those found guilty of sacrilege. The Centre should have done it. However, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government is bringing it in Punjab as it understands the emotions of the people of the state," AAP spokesperson Neel Garg recently said. The spokesperson, indeed the state government, needs to understand that there are more important things for people than emotions—things like jobs, decent and healthy life, good human and physical environment. On every count, the AAP government in Punjab has failed. According to the latest report from the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) for October-December 2024, there was a steep rise in youth unemployment in urban Punjab. The rate in the 15-29 age group soared from 12.2 per cent in the July-September 2024 period to 14.9 per cent in October-December 2024. Female unemployment rates were higher than male. It is hardly surprising that the lack of opportunities at home fuels the young Punjabis' impulse to seek greener pastures in other countries. Many of them go to countries like the US and Canada by illegal means. When the US deported many Indians in a humiliating condition, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann urged the youth to learn lessons from the recent mass deportation of illegal migrants. He beseeched them to work hard in their native state to make it a frontrunner in the country. That, however, will be predicated upon objective conditions in the state: that is, fiscal policies and a sound policy framework, which are the sine qua non of growth and development. But the state is spending 86 per cent of its new borrowing to repay old loans. But legacy debt is not the only burden the AAM regime is condemned to bear; it is doing its own bit—more than a bit actually—to augment the burden. It continued its tryst with freebies. Unsurprisingly, the economy continues to underperform, growing at a pace lower than the national average. Punjab's agriculture, once booming which made the state the breadbasket of the nation, is worse than languishing. Subsidy-oriented and MSP-based farm policies, both of the Centre and the state, have introduced distortions in the farm sectors and made it adopt anti-environment practices like stubble burning and drawing excessive groundwater. There is scarcely any spark in the industrial sector; the state rarely appears on the manufacturing map of India. And then there are drugs. Early this month, the Punjab and Haryana High Court highlighted the dangerous ramifications of the use of cocaine, heroin, etc. Justice Sumeet Goel warned that the crisis is no longer confined to personal addiction but has begun to threaten public order, national security, and the rule of law itself. 'It is the considered view of this Court that cases pertaining to the drug menace, especially those involving manufactured drugs, must be dealt with the utmost strictness and resolve," the High Court declared. This, four months after the Punjab government set a three-month deadline to declare the state free from drugs! Chief Minister Singh Mann called the time of that decision 'a historic moment as the state government has adopted a zero-tolerance policy against drugs and is launching a crusade against this menace." Only if government decisions and announcements could transform the world into a paradise! Since the AAP government in Punjab has failed to save the state and its people from various menaces, it has now decided to shield religion and gods. Sacrilege has long been an emotionally-charged issue in Punjab. There was an incident of sacrilege of the Guru Granth Sahib at Bargari in 2015. This badly hurt the electoral prospects of the Shiromani Akali Dal-BJP government; specifically, it hurt the Akali Dal; the party is yet to fully recover from it. Since then, successive governments have made repeated efforts to introduce laws mandating harsher penalties for sacrilege. CM Mann has emphasised that while the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) includes specific provisions related to religious places, it does not explicitly address Sikh scriptures. He believes that since this issue falls under the Concurrent List, the state has the jurisdiction to frame its own legislation on the matter. Mann and his government will be better advised to—instead of spending time and energy on constitutional and legal minutiae—focus on fiscal prudence, a sound economic policy framework, and good governance. The author is a freelance journalist. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18's views. view comments Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: July 09, 2025, 19:30 IST News opinion Opinion | Sentimentalism Is Poor Substitute For Good Governance Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
