INDIA, October 31, 2016 (Daily Pioneer): Following widespread criticism and agitations over an article in its in-flight magazine over non-vegetarian dishes being cooked and served at the Shree Jagannath Temple, Puri, Air India on Saturday apologized for publishing the article and withdrew the magazine from all its aircrafts. An article in Subh Yatra, the Air India’s magazine, titled “Devotion can be delicious,” read, “Said to be the largest in the country, the Jagannath Temple’s kitchen in Puri since its inception has had an army of 500 cooks and 300 helpers to serve 100,000 people every day, round the clock, which means almost 285 varieties of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes every day.”
After an Odia passenger noticed the article, he shared it in social networking site. Later, the article drew sharp reactions from every quarter with Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik stating, “I think this is a most unfortunate matter. We will take it up strongly with the appropriate authorities.” Protesting the article, activists of the Jagannath Sena on Saturday took to the streets and demanded an immediate apology from the concerned authorities. Meanwhile, the airline in a tweet said, “AI apologizes for the error. Our intention was not to hurt sentiments. Shubh Yatra copies have been removed with immediate effect.”