Bengal CM prays at Kalighat temple, has fish-basanti pulao prasad
Kolkata: Chief minister Suvendu Adhikari visited Kalighat temple on the occasion of Kaushiki Amavasya on Thursday evening and had the prasad – comprising fried fish, fish head and basanti pulao (yellow rice) – after praying to Goddess Kali.
The visit to the temple on the auspicious evening was an obvious signal to his party’s base but the subtler signal came in CM’s partaking of the non-vegetarian prasad, which would have been aimed at a larger section of the Bengali-Hindu electorate evidently miffed at the ongoing controversy sparked by a visiting ‘Baba’s’ comments on the eating habits of “Bangal ke Hindus” during Durga Puja. Bageshwar Dham Peethadhishwar Dhirendra Krishna Garg alias Bageshwar Baba, while addressing a gathering in Howrah on Sunday, had said those who “consume non-vegetarian food during Durga Puja are pakhandis (impious)”. This Navratri, Hindus of Bengal should wake up and boycott such people,” he had said. Under his leadership, the BJP will always stand firmly for Bengal’s interests, Bengal’s traditions, and what is right for Bengal,” said BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari.
“In Bengal, non-vegetarian food is consumed behind Durga Puja pandals during Navratri. Dirty food is cooked. Garg was in Bengal over the weekend and attended a dinner alongside CM Suvendu Adhikari and several BJP ministers. Opposition politicians had latched on to the comments, and BJP, finding itself on the wrong side of the culture war, engaged seniors, including state party chief Samik Bhattacharya to counter a narrative that seemed to be spinning out of control. However, it were the visuals of the chief minister – sitting on the floor and tucking into the non-vegetarian prasad at Kalighat temple – that would be working for BJP way more than any party seniors’ comments. A Hindu priest had admonished the Bengali Hindus who consume non-veg during Durga Puja. At Kalighat, CM @SuvenduWB takes part in Maa Kali’s traditional Fish Bhog – respecting Bengal’s faith, traditions, and way of life.
Earlier reporting noted: But when Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari relished fish at the centuries-old Kalighat temple in Kolkata, the focus wasn’t on his plate but on remarks that have echoed in the city over the past week. Earlier reporting noted: Taking a cue from Adhikari’s video, the ruling party suggested that it should end the veg-non-veg debate. Earlier reporting noted: “Let the controversy end where it should.