A recent incident on the Vande Bharat Express train from Howrah to Ranchi has sparked outrage online after a video emerged showing a passenger allegedly slapping a server over a food mix-up. The passenger, reportedly a vegetarian, was furious upon realizing that he had been mistakenly served a non-veg meal. The misunderstanding occurred because the man did not check the veg and non-veg markings on the meal before consuming it.
The video, which has gone viral, shows other passengers intervening and demanding the man apologize to the server. Amid the chaos, some people can be heard criticizing the man for his actions, emphasizing that the server had already apologized for the mistake. A witness commented, “The whole point of vegetarianism is non-violence and if you are hitting people you are actually in violation of the non-violence.” Another person praised the passengers who stood up against the wrong, stating, “The world is a better place because of the good Samaritan like these, everyone needs to stand against wrong, this is much required in present situations.”
The video also shows police entering the train coach, but it is unclear whether any action was taken against the passenger for physically assaulting the railway worker. The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) provides both vegetarian and non-vegetarian meal options to passengers. In 2023, IRCTC addressed rumors that the railways would stop serving non-veg meal during the month of Shravan, a time when many Hindus abstain from eating meat.
The incident has drawn widespread condemnation, with many people expressing their disapproval of the passenger’s actions. One social media user quoted from the Harry Potter series, saying, “If you want to know what a man’s like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals.” Another user criticized the hypocrisy of targeting vulnerable individuals while ignoring the actions of the wealthy and powerful, stating, “These people have no audacity to question the rich & powerful who are partying in times of mass human suffering. But always ready to harass some of the most vulnerable people in the world.”
The incident highlights the importance of treating service workers with respect and the need for calm and understanding in resolving disputes.