New Delhi, Sept 4: Congress president Rahul Gandhi faced flak back at home after a section of the Nepali private media claimed that he ate non-veg food in Kathmandu, enroute to the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) marked its dissent after the reports emerge, asking the Congress, along with Gandhi, to issue an apology to crores of Hindes whose "sentiments have been hurt by his insensitive approach" while being on the pilgrimage.

While the Congress denied the allegations, ambiguity prevailed on whether the Gandhi scion ate non-vegetarian food.

In a bid to end the controversy, the Kathmandu restaurant - Vootoo - issued an statement claiming that the Congress chief ate "only pure veg food" while halting for a meal.

"There has been plenty of inquiry from the media regarding the food ordered by Rahul Gandhi, President of Indian National Congress during his visit at Vootoo. We would like to clarify that he ordered pure veg items from the menu. Vootoo has not given any statement to any media regarding the food items ordered by him," said the statement issued by the restaurant.

This contradicts the reports in Nepali media, which alleged that Gandhi had ordered the Nevai dish plate, which includes chicken momos and chicken kurkure.

After the restaurant clarified, the Congress issued a statement accusing the BJP of politicising the incident for "petty political gains". Calling the controversy baseless, the party said the issue was raked up on the behest of BJP to defame Gandhi.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 04, 2018 10:17 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).