Maharashtra hotel owners agree to provide Maharashtrian dishes

Bowing to the demand of Republican Party of India (Athawale), association of hotel owners has decided to make available Marathi dishes in every restaurant in Maharashtra.

RPI chief and Rajya Sabha MP Ramdas Athawale had threatened to launch an agitation over the demand. "I have had a very successful meeting with restaurant owners today and they have agreed to our demand that marathi cuisine needs to be served in every restaurant.

"While we do not mind people being served other cuisines, it would be injustice to our culture if the option to eat Maharashtrian food was denied," Athawale said, after meeting representatives of Indian Hotels and Restaurants Association (AHAR) here.

RPI vice president Vivek Pandit, who was present at the meeting, said after intense discussions, AHAR agreed to provide popular Maharashtrian dishes such as batata-vada and poha on menus everywhere. "To reciprocate this gesture, we will take up the issues of restaurant owners. We cannot let them down," he said.

Adarsh Shetty, president of AHAR, said several restaurants in Mumbai and elsewhere already offer Maharashtrian dishes, but now they would be available in every restaurant. "Respecting Athawale's demand, we have decided to include them in menus of all hotels. From the next week, all restaurants will serve Maharashtrian cuisine," he said. 

Also Read: Restaurants in state must serve Maharashtrian food: RPI chief Ramdas Athawale