Kolkata, March 22 A BJP candidate canvassed on Sunday, carrying a fish – a staple in the Bengali diet – as part of his strategy to counter the ruling TMC's campaign that the saffron camp would ban non-vegetarian food if they were voted into power in West Bengal.
The unusual campaign of Dr. Sharadwat Mukhopadhyay of the Bidhannagar constituency quickly went viral on social media.
While interacting with voters in Bidhannagar, Mukhopadhyay held up the large catla fish, dismissing the TMC's claim as false propaganda.
"We are being falsely accused. We will eat fish, mutton, and chicken according to our preference. I have brought this fish, which is a gift from the bride's family to the groom's family on the day of a Bengali wedding," he said.
Several TMC leaders, including Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, have consistently alleged that the BJP intends to interfere with Bengal's food culture if elected to power in the state. They cite the crackdown on the sale of fish and meat in some NDA-ruled states like Bihar and Gujarat, especially during certain festivals.
Banerjee claims that the party does not understand Bengal's cultural ethos.
The controversy gained traction following a directive in BJP-ruled Bihar regarding restrictions on the sale of fish and meat in open spaces, which the TMC cited to bolster its campaign narrative.
However, the BJP has denied any such intent. Party leaders, including state President Samik Bhattacharya and union minister Sukanta Majumdar, have asserted that there is no plan to ban non-vegetarian food and that people's food choices will not be interfered with.
