Varanasi Diesel Loco shed cook excited to cook for PM again

VARANASI: Every day, Rajiv Batwal kneads dough for chappatis in the kitchen of Varanasi’s Diesel Locomotive Workshop (DLW), but Saturday will be a special day as he’ll be cooking for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his entourage again. Batwal, 30, has cooked for Modi 15 times since 2014 as the PM usually stays at the railway guesthouse when he visits his constituency.

Though Batwal usually makes just tea, dal and chappatis for the PM, “who only eats simple food”, he’s proud to say that Modi has requested his nenua sabzi, a local UP speciality made from ridge gourd and chana, thrice.

“The PM has never made us feel insignificant when he stays at DLW during visits to Varanasi. He is full of energy, and sleeps little,” says Batwal, full of admiration for the “PM’s disciplined regimen of yoga and walking”.

‘Lack of jobs a big concern’

“Lack of jobs, whether in management, engineering or sports, is a big concern and promises have not been fulfilled as we wanted,” says Batwal, showing off a tattoo on his forearm, which reads ‘My Best Friend Ashu’. That’s a tribute to his friend at DLW Ashish, a cricketer. “I hope Ashish gets to play for Team India some day and sports lovers like him get free coaching and secure jobs,” he says.