‘Bengal welcomes tourists with open arms’: TMC jibes at Amit Shah with fish, meat menu ahead of 15-day visit | India News
New Delhi: Days after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said the Bharatiya Janata Party would restrict Bengalis’ diet, including meat and fish, if it comes to power, the Trinamool Congress on Thursday sharpened its attack on Union Home Minister Amit Shah ahead of his 15-day election tour.In a social media post on X, the TMC said that Bengal welcomes tourists with open arms and recommended West Bengal’s non-vegetarian dishes for him to try.“Amit Shah announced his decision to spend 15 days in Bengal. Good. Bengal welcomes tourists with open arms. Stay as long as you want. And don’t miss out on some of our best delicacies,” the party said.“We recommend: Muri Ghonto, Pabda Fish Jhal, Hilsa Vapa, Chingri Malai Curry, Vetki Paturi, Kosha Mangsho. Stay happy!” it added.This is in line with the TMC’s campaign pitch, which presents the BJP as out of touch with Bengal’s cultural heritage. The controversy erupted after senior TMC leaders including Mamata Banerjee criticized what they described as a BJP-backed move against non-vegetarian food. The comments were linked to the Bihar government’s recent order to regulate open sale of meat.Addressing a rally, Banerjee said, “I have received a report about the Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar claiming that fish and meat cannot be sold in open markets. It is anti-people and reprehensible. Can everyone sell meat and fish in shopping malls? What will happen to the majority of street fish and meat vendors? What will happen to their livelihood?”“BJP will ban meat and fish in Bengal if it comes to power. I have seen Deputy CM of Bihar that fish and meat cannot be sold in open market. Only those who have a license can sell meat at home. So, will everyone sell meat and fish in shopping malls? Only a few have the economic power to do so. Most fishmongers sell fresh fish on the streets here. This is how they earn their bread. I condemn this politics,” he further alleged.Meanwhile, West Bengal BJP president Samik Bhattacharya asserted that the people of Bengal are free to eat food of their choice and clarified that the party is only against the open sale of beef.Responding to the allegations, Bhattacharya said, “People of Bengal will eat what they want. Bengal will have fish and meat,” rejecting the TMC’s demand for a proposed ban on open sale of fish and meat in the neighboring state.Elaborating on Bihar’s instructions, he added that the BJP has not proposed any blanket restrictions. “They can never say such things. Why would they? No one will accept it. TMC is twisting the comments,” he said.Elections to 294 constituencies in West Bengal will be held in two phases – April 23 (152 constituencies) and April 29 (142) – with results to be declared on May 4, in what is expected to be a closely watched contest between the TMC and the BJP.
