West Bengal’s political arena is heating up with TMC MLA Narayan Goswami launching a blistering attack on the BJP, linking Bihar’s meat and fish sales prohibition to a broader assault on Bengali identity. The remarks, delivered in Barasat, come amid Mamata Banerjee’s bid to weaponize the issue in the state assembly elections.
The Bihar government’s clampdown on open meat and fish vending has drawn ire from across party lines, but TMC is framing it as evidence of BJP’s cultural overreach. Goswami minced no words: ‘Bengali cuisine revolves around fish and rice. BJP’s arrival in Bengal would spell the end for our staples.’ He alleged the party aims to erase longstanding food habits, underestimating the savvy of local voters who will respond decisively in polls.
Turning to PM Modi’s addition of ‘Swami’ to Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa’s name, Goswami called it unsurprising politicking. With elections looming, BJP leaders are desperately name-checking Bengal icons, fueled by resentment over the state’s progressive outlook. ‘Bengal produced five of India’s six Nobel winners,’ he boasted, attributing BJP’s hostility to this reservoir of brilliance they seek to suppress.
Reflecting on electoral prospects, Goswami scoffed that BJP retaining even 50% of their 2021 seats would count as success. Invocations of spiritual giants like Vivekananda and Chaitanya won’t sway voters, he predicted. This escalating rhetoric underscores deepening divides, with food bans emerging as a potent symbol in Bengal’s high-stakes battle.