West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s recent offer to prepare a meal for Prime Minister Narendra Modi has ignited a flurry of responses from various political quarters, inviting both support and criticism from different parties. According to news agency PTI, CM Mamata Banerjee, during an election rally, took a dig at the BJP’s alleged interference in food habits, stating, “I will be happy to cook food for Modi, but I am not sure whether the PM will be ready to savour my cooked meal.”
She expressed uncertainty over whether Modi, a vegetarian, would accept her offer. “I love both vegetarian foods like Dhokla and non-veg foods like macher jhol (fish curry),” she added, emphasising the diversity of food preferences across communities and sects.
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Her remarks aimed to highlight the diversity in food cultures across the country after PM Modi criticised RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav last month for having fish during a period when some Hindus abstain from having non-vegetarian food.
“I have been cooking since my childhood days. People have praised my cooking. But will Modi ji accept my food? Will he trust me? I will cook whatever he loves, she had said, as quoted by PTI. “I love both vegetarian foods like Dhokla and non-veg foods like macher jhol (fish curry). Different communities, and different sects among Hindus have their own unique rituals and eating habits. Who is BJP to impose a diktat on an individual’s dietary habits? It shows the BJP leadership has little idea and concern about the diversity and inclusivity of India and its people,” she remarked.
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The BJP promptly labelled Banerjee’s offer as a political move. Former BJP state president Tathagata Roy commented, “Mamata Banerjee wants to feed Modi ji with fish and rice cooked by her. Good proposal. But before that, why doesn’t she first offer pork chop to her lieutenant Firhad Hakim? It will serve three purposes, secularism will be asserted, it will show charity begins at home and the fritters will also be praised.”
BJP leader Sankudeb Panda accused Banerjee of deliberate provocation, suggesting she knew Modi’s dietary preferences. “This is nothing but her ploy to trap the PM. She knows on the one hand the PM will never eat fish or any non-veg item. If she believes everyone should be allowed to eat what he/she loves to eat, then why is she twisting Modiji’s comments about one’s dietary habits? She is insulting devout Sanatani Hindus,” he added, as quoted by PTI.
In contrast, CPI(M) leader Bikash Bhattacharya viewed Banerjee’s offer differently, saying, “Being Dada-Bon (brother and sister), Mamata didi can certainly offer to cook meals for the prime minister, do not know if it is to placate him.” The remark was in reference to the jibe – Didibhai-Modibhai that the Left and the Bengal Congress unit employ to refer to the alleged tacit understanding between the BJP and the TMC.
CPI(M) leader termed it as her public posturing against Modi’s ‘politics and divisive speeches’ and went on to allege contradiction to what she publicly says and preaches in private. “Both Mamata Banerjee and Narendra Modi are responsible for bringing the country to such a state. Both are mixing politics with religion,” he added, as quoted by PTI.
The Trinamool Congress (TMC), on the other hand, stood by party chief Banerjee’s remarks, defending her stance on diversity and individual rights. TMC MP Dola Sen told PTI, “She spoke rightly, and her comment regarding Modi stems from the fact that as Modi has the right to eat what he likes, every other Indian too has the same right.”
