A new debate has emerged in India, this time revolving around food choices on the South Indian Vande Bharat trains. Malayalam writer M.S. Madhavan took to social media platform X to voice concerns about what he deemed a lack of regional food options on the Bengaluru-Coimbatore Vande Bharat train.

Madhavan shared an image of what he described as a non-representative menu, stating, “They speak about language imposition. What about food imposition?” His comment sparked widespread online discussions, with many agreeing that the imposition extends beyond language to food as well.

Some users joined in, questioning the railways’ food offerings, suggesting that the caterers are unfamiliar with both North and South Indian cuisine. One user remarked, “If you haven’t tasted the worst food, then go and experience it in railways,” while another pointed out the paradox of offering idli across the country, questioning if that too could be considered food imposition.

The food dispute follows another recent controversy concerning language imposition, with a viral post celebrating the removal of Hindi from digital display boards at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport. The debate on language and food imposition continues to fuel discussions on cultural representation in India.