In a recent campaign trail in Haryana, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi once again found himself in the spotlight, but not for the reasons his party might have hoped. During his speech, Gandhi suggested that the famous jalebis from a local shop in Haryana, which he greatly enjoyed, should be made in factories and distributed globally. “If these jalebis go across the country and the world, then maybe, their factory will have 10,000 to 50,000 workers,” he added, attributing the lack of such factories to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s policies.
This statement, however, was met with bemusement and ridicule from local vendors and food experts alike, who highlighted the impracticality of factory-made jalebis, a street food cherished for its freshness and crunchiness.
Reality on the Ground
In response to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s suggestion that jalebis could be mass-produced in factories and exported worldwide, local street vendors reacted with amusement, dismissing the idea as impractical. According to the vendors, jalebis, a beloved Indian street food, are best enjoyed fresh and cannot be preserved for long periods without compromising their taste and texture.
Recently, I spoke about the delicious jalebis in Gohana and the opportunity to sell them more widely.
India has 5500 clusters of similar small producers who can market their products to the world if given the right support. They need policies to provide them with finance,…
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) October 4, 2024
One vendor, who has been making jalebis almost all his life, explained that factory production would require the addition of preservatives, which he referred to as “zeher” (poison), ultimately altering the authenticity of the snack. The proposal sparked a broader discussion on social media, with users pointing out that iconic street foods like jalebis, vada pav, and samosas are cherished for their immediacy and freshness, and mass production would undermine their appeal.
Similarly, a social media user wrote on X, “Now You are covering your mistake and misunderstanding about Indian food because you are a Pizza eating folk. There can not be any food factory of jalebi and can only be sold like Haldiram chain commercially at large scale which is totally different way of manufacturing.”
Another user added a news report and wrote, “Apples, jeans, Kolhapuri chappals, pineapples from Meghalaya, makhana from Bihar, and brassware from Moradabad are already being exported. All the big talk on business meanwhile Congress ruled states turn cash strapped.”
The Disconnect: Rahul Gandhi and the ordinary Indian
This episode is just the latest in a series of comments made by Rahul Gandhi that seem to reflect a growing disconnect between the leader and the everyday lives of Indians. For many Indians, buying jalebis or other street foods from a local vendor is a regular, beloved ritual. Every neighbourhood has that one sweet shop or stall where families gather for freshly-made treats. This everyday experience seems alien to the Congress leader.
Take Gandhi’s claim that a jalebi factory could employ 10,000 to 50,000 workers. It’s not just the sheer exaggeration of the numbers but the fact that such a statement suggests a complete lack of understanding of the business of street food. Jalebis, like many other street foods around the world, are best made in small batches by local vendors. They don’t lend themselves to factory production.
Comparisons to global street food traditions also illustrate this point. In the UK, fish-and-chip shops are small, family-run businesses. In the US, hot dogs and pretzels are sold at street carts or local delis. None of these foods are mass-produced in factories for the simple reason that their appeal lies in their freshness and local flavour. Even large fast-food chains like McDonald’s or Pizza Hut don’t produce fully cooked items in a factory—they manufacture or procure ingredients in bulk and finish the cooking process in their outlets.
Past Gaffes: A Pattern of senseless comments
Unfortunately, this is not the first time Rahul Gandhi has made comments that show a disconnect with the ground realities of Indian life. From his remark that “poverty is just a state of mind” to his suggestion that “India is not a country, it’s an idea,” Gandhi has made several statements that have baffled both his supporters and critics alike.
In 2018, during a visit to Germany, Gandhi raised eyebrows when he compared the rise of the Islamic State (ISIS) to the unemployment crisis in India, implying that joblessness leads to extremism. The comments were widely criticised as oversimplifying a complex issue and failing to recognise the nuances behind global terrorism.
Similarly, in 2019, during a campaign in Rajasthan, he claimed that “potatoes could be turned into gold” under a Congress government—an analogy that left many scratching their heads, as it had no clear connection to the policy discussion at hand.
These remarks, much like the “jalebi factory” comment, are often seen as lacking substance or grounding in reality, raising concerns about Gandhi’s ability to connect with the electorate and understand their everyday struggles.
The issue with Rahul Gandhi’s jalebi remark is not just about food but about his wider understanding of India’s culture and economy. Street food, like jalebis, is more than just a commodity; it’s a part of India’s social fabric. Millions of Indians enjoy these foods fresh from local vendors, and the very idea of factory-made jalebis ignores the fundamental nature of this beloved treat.
Moreover, the remark signals a larger problem: the perception that Rahul Gandhi, a leader of one of India’s oldest political parties, is increasingly out of touch with the realities of ordinary Indians. Whether it’s about food or the economy, the key to leadership is understanding the needs and lives of the people one seeks to represent.
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