'Fish Without Garlic, Onion Is Vegetarian': UP Minister Sanjay Nishad's Odd Claim

Published 11 August 2026 · local

News cities lucknow-news 'Fish Without Garlic, Onion Is Vegetarian': UP Minister Sanjay Nishad's Odd Claim 'Fish Without Garlic, Onion Is Vegetarian': UP Minister Sanjay Nishad's

News cities lucknow-news 'Fish Without Garlic, Onion Is Vegetarian': UP Minister Sanjay Nishad's Odd Claim 'Fish Without Garlic, Onion Is Vegetarian': UP Minister Sanjay Nishad's Odd Claim Published By, Edited By Last Updated: August 11, 2026, 14:52 IST UP minister Sanjay Nishad claimed fish without garlic and onion is vegetarian, at a News18 event where he also joked about Ravi Kishan and sent a pointed message to rivals. Sanjay Nishad said that PM Modi and CM Yogi welcomed both the Nishad community's baton and its flag, and that those who opposed "Nishad Raj" did not belong in the country. Uttar Pradesh minister and Nishad Party chief Sanjay Nishad claimed at News18 Uttar Pradesh/Uttarakhand’s ‘Badalta Purvi Uttar Pradesh’ event that fish cooked without garlic and onion counts as vegetarian food, arguing that since no religious authority had contradicted the claim when first made, silence meant it was correct.

“When it was earlier said that fish without garlic and onion is vegetarian, no ‘Maharaj ji’ countered it. Staying silent means the statement is correct," Nishad said, smiling as he made the point. He went on to claim that the symbol of the Uttar Pradesh government, a bow and an arrow, is the emblem of the Nishad community — one he said the community takes pride in. What Did He Say About His London Trip And Ravi Kishan? Nishad also recounted a recent trip to London, where he shared a stage with Gorakhpur MP and Bhojpuri star Ravi Kishan. “Ravi Kishan ji entertained everyone with his songs, while I wore everyone out," he said, before adding a line aimed at Britain’s political landscape: “India used to look like London once, but today London looks like India.

Even Britain chose an Indian prime minister." What Was His Message To Political Rivals? Nishad then turned combative, declaring that anyone who welcomed “Nishad Raj’s danda [baton/stick]" was a brother, while anyone who opposed it would be branded a “kasai" (butcher). He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath welcomed both the Nishad community’s baton and its flag, and that those who opposed “Nishad Raj" did not belong in the country. He closed with a rhymed political appeal, asserting that the Nishad community had abandoned the “flag of the dishonest" — a reference to the BSP, SP and Congress — and would no longer tolerate being beaten down, having instead taken up its own party’s banner and put a stop to what he called their “business." News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad.