Posters in West Bengal urge biryani from Hindu shops
Opposition criticizes linking food choices to religion, warning of societal division.
Since the BJP came to power in West Bengal, incidents of religious division have been occurring almost daily. Attacks on Muslim and Christian communities are increasing, and now the BJP government has started using festivals as a tool for religious division. Recently, several churches in Midnapore, West Bengal, were vandalized, and members of the Christian community were prohibited from praying. An atmosphere of fear and terror has been created, leading the Christian community to stop holding collective prayer meetings.
And now,
posters have been put up in Siliguri, West Bengal, appealing to people to buy meat and biryani from Hindu-owned shops during Durga Puja. This campaign by the Hindu Jagran Manch has sparked political controversy regarding religious identity, food freedom, and communal harmony. Opposition leaders have criticized it, stating that linking food and shopping decisions to religion can create divisions in society.
According to a report by Indian Express, these posters have been spotted in several areas of the city, including the walls around the Durga Puja ground of Tarun Tirth Club in Bharat Nagar. This location is also in the news because the club's puja venue is near the residence of the state's tourism minister and Siliguri MLA Shankar Ghosh. However, Ghosh has stated that he is unaware of who put up these posters.
One poster reads,
“Buy meat from Hindu shops.” Another poster's message states, “There is no restriction on eating biryani. Eat biryani, but buy it from a Hindu shop.” These posters, placed outside the puja venue at the start of the festival, have caught the attention of local residents and passersby, with many stopping to read them.
This campaign has raised questions about,
whether it is appropriate to influence people's shopping based on religious identity during festivals like Durga Puja. Durga Puja is an important part of Bengal's cultural and religious life. Consequently, the placement of such messages around puja pandals has intensified the debate.
Abhishek Das, a representative of the Hindu Jagran Manch, admitted that the organization put up these posters. He stated that,
“The campaign is not limited to Bharat Nagar, but similar posters have also been placed in front of various puja pandals across the city. According to the organization, its aim is to convey a message of Hindu unity.”
Abhishek Das from the Hindu Jagran Manch said,
“We have put up these posters ourselves. Not just in Bharat Nagar, but posters have also been placed in front of different puja pandals in the city. Through these, we wanted to convey a message of Hindu unity from the Hindu Jagran Manch.”
The posters specifically appeal to buy meat and biryani from Hindu shopkeepers. This links a routine commercial activity with religious identity. While the organization claims it is a campaign for unity, critics argue that it could increase the distance between different communities.
Tourism Minister Shankar Ghosh distanced himself from this campaign, stating, “I do not know who put up these posters. Those who put them up can explain why they did so.” His response came after posters appeared near the puja venue close to his residence.
Former mayor of Siliguri and leftist leader Ashok Bhattacharya harshly criticized the posters. He alleged that,
“Organizations linked to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and the Bharatiya Janata Party are creating divisions among people in the name of religion. Such organizations are run by the RSS. The BJP is a party that follows the fascist policies of the RSS. They spread hatred among people in the name of caste and religion.”
He stated that,
“Food should be a matter of personal freedom. Whether a person is Bengali, Hindu, Muslim, Bihari, or Marwari, they should have the freedom to decide what to eat and where to buy it. We have never seen such disgusting propaganda before. Now we are facing it, and the BJP is behind it.”
Bhattacharya also linked the campaign to the state's political environment. He alleged that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's language is encouraging such organizations. He demanded that the police remove the posters, stating that they pose a threat to social harmony. However, his allegations against the BJP and RSS are political claims; they are not independently verified by available material.
Another former mayor of Siliguri, Goutam Deb also criticized the campaign. He said,
“Let people decide. I find this somewhat ridiculous. Our state is secular. It is extremely unfortunate to put up such posters just before the puja, disregarding the spirit of the Constitution.”
Deb stated that appeals for shopping based on religion are not in line with Bengal's tradition of communal harmony. According to him, the people of Bengal are politically aware and will understand the meaning of this campaign. He added that if the posters are found unconstitutional, the police should take appropriate action.