KOLKATA: "If you don't have freedom to eat, will you have the freedom to speak?" CM Mamata Banerjee said on Tuesday. Speaking at campaign rallies in Maynaguri and Siliguri, Banerjee said: "BJP are such divisive people that ...when they see a Bengali, they ask them how they can eat fish. If they want to be vegetarian, then they are most welcome to do so; however, they should not try to control what others eat. Who are they to decide what people will eat or wear? Only the people of this nation have the right to decide that."
Fish has made a debut on Bengal's poll menu after PM Narendra Modi's jibe last week at RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav for eating fish during a period when some Hindus abstain from having non-vegetarian food. On Tuesday, the CM continued to attack BJP over Bengal's favourite dish. At the Maynaguri rally, she said BJP was trying to dictate everything, including citizens' eating habits. "Everyone has their own customs and traditions, but they will erase our diversity. They will decide everything for you, including what to eat and wear. People may not even be allowed to speak. There will be no elections in the country, there will be no federal structure or Constitution, and only the Modi govt will remain if they come to office," she said.
Trinamool general secretary Abhishek Banerjee reminded the people the statement on fish had come from the PM himself. "I used to have fish once a day earlier. After his (Modi's) statement, I am eating fish twice," he said at a public meeting in Cooch Behar. "They are calling us anti-nationals just because we eat fish. Mind you, the statement has been made not by just any leader from BJP but the PM himself. He said that since we eat fish, we are anti-Hindu, anti-nationals. If BJP comes to office, they will ban eating fish. Do you want to eat fish in the future? If so, do not vote BJP back. They do not know our culture and our roots," he said.
Abhishek broached the topic again a few hours later at the end of a road show, saying Centre now wished to decide what "I eat, what I do or even what I wear". "If you vote for such a party, you are actually inviting trouble," he said.
TOI on Tuesday had reported that Trinamool Congress seniors had said both their lead campaigners - the CM and the party general secretary - were likely to emphasise this topic at future rallies. A campaign is also being planned on the lines of "BJP hatao, maach-bhaat khao (drive out BJP to keep eating rice and fish)".
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