In a rare move, Prime Minister Narendra Modi  had lunch at the parliament canteen, surprising the staff and many people present there. Modi had some fruit salad and a vegetarian thali at a total cost of Rs.29.

The prime minister went to the canteen at room no.70 of Parliament House around 1 p.m. when the canteen was bustling with activity.

The canteen managers as well as MPs were surprised when the prime minister came and sat at a table occupied by some other parliamentarians, a canteen official said.

Union minister Piyush Goyal joined him later.

The prime minister first asked for a glass of water.

Canteen in-charge B.L. Purohit rushed forward and asked the prime minister what he would like to eat.

“The prime minister said ‘jo hai wahi khilaiye… kuchh bhi. Alag se intezam karne ki zaroorat nahi hai’ (give me what has been cooked, no need to do anything special),” a canteen official said.

The prime minister, a vegetarian, then had some fruit salad, followed by a vegetarian thali (platter) consisting of sarson ka saag, aloo subji, rajma, rice, roti and curd.

The bill was of Rs.29. Modi gave a Rs.100 note and was returned Rs.71, according to canteen officials.

Modi later wrote in Hindi in the visitor’s book: “Annadata sukhi bhava.” (May the Giver of food be happy).

“We were all surprised. I have never seen any prime minister come for lunch here,” said a canteen staff member who said he was working there for the last 13 years.

The parliament canteen run by Indian Railways is the most subsidised canteen in the country. It serves parliamentarians, parliament staff and journalists in different sitting areas.