Corona virus and the Chinese Food habits [ A visit down the memory lane]

Year 2002. A high level Chinese Communist Party Delegation visited the Bharatiya Janata Party Central Office on a courtesy call, so to say. Late Shri J. Krishnamurthi, the Party President, deputed some of the members of the Party's Intellectual Cell to hold an interactive session with them. During his pre -meeting briefing he had told us that there was no major distinction between a Government officials and Party functionaries in China and therefore the discussions should be held with that perspective. He had also desired that the group should probe as to what was the real mission of the visiting Delegation. Yours truly was part of the BJP side.

After the usual formalities and a diplomatic mentioning of the praiseworthy rising of good party to party relations were over, the Head on the Chinese side stated that the purpose of their mission was to know as to how was India managing its demand and supply of meat, as the issue was becoming a major problem in their country. They also stated that the delegation was visiting Australia next with a similar purpose.

Taken by surprise about the unconventional issue, we talked of the issue randomly. Things were summed up by Ambassador Arora as the Head of the BJP External Affairs Cell stating that India was basically a vegetarian society since ages and therefore meat never had been nor shall it ever be an issue. In the lighter way we had suggested a change in the food habits universally.

Today with the origin of the terrifying Corona virus being located in the wet markets of China, it came to mind as to how prophetic the suggestion was!