‘Policing our plates’: TMC attacks Centre over Vande Bharat sleeper's veg-only menu; alleges cultural imposition

NEW DELHI: West Bengal’s ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Thursday accused the BJP-led Centre and Prime Minister Narendra Modi of policing people's plates after the newly launched Vande Bharat sleeper train between Kolkata and Kamakhya offered only vegetarian food.The party alleged that the absence of non-vegetarian options on a route linking regions where fish and meat are staple foods reflected an attempt to impose uniform food habits. In a post on X, the party wrote: “First they policed our votes. Now they’re policing our plates”.Referring to the recent flag-off of the Vande Bharat sleeper service by PM Modi, the TMC said the Centre had highlighted the new train for Bengal but had not disclosed changes to its food offerings.“Just days ago, PM Modi was busy boasting about giving Bengal a new Vande Bharat sleeper train. What he didn’t mention however is that on the Vande Bharat train running from Bengal to Assam, fish and meat have been taken off the menu,” the party wrote.Pointing to the cultural significance of non-vegetarian food in both West Bengal and Assam, the TMC said, “A train connecting two regions where people cherish non-vegetarian food now offers only vegetarian options.”The party described the move as part of what it called a larger ideological pattern, saying it reflected “the natural extension of a mindset” that seeks to impose uniformity. In its post, the TMC cited earlier incidents to underline its criticism, including remarks allegedly made about fish-eating Bengalis, restrictions on fish in parts of Delhi and the assault of a street vendor for selling chicken patties.“The Prime Minister derides fish-eating Bengalis as ‘Mughals’. Diktats are issued banning fish in Delhi. A poor street vendor is brutally assaulted for selling chicken patties. Today it’s what we eat. Tomorrow it’s what we wear. Who we love. How we live. What we’re witnessing is the ‘Banchte Chai, BJP Tai’ model, where Bengalis are pushed into submission by Bangla-Birodhi Zamindars imposing monolithic, homogenised identities on our plural ethos,” the party further wrote. Reiterating its opposition to what it termed cultural imposition, the TMC added, “Bengal will not take lessons on identity from those who neither understand nor respect it.”The criticism comes days after Prime Minister Modi flagged off India’s first Vande Bharat sleeper train on January 17 from Malda town in West Bengal. The semi-high-speed, fully air-conditioned train is designed for overnight travel and aims to improve connectivity between eastern India and the Northeast.According to the Ministry of Railways, the first commercial run of the Vande Bharat sleeper train between Howrah and Kamakhya received an overwhelming response, with all tickets selling out within hours of bookings opening. Reservations for the train were fully booked within 24 hours after ticket sales began on January 19.The train began its maiden commercial journey from Kamakhya on January 22 and from Howrah on January 23. It will run six days a week and complete the Howrah–Kamakhya journey in about 14 hours, making it the fastest service on the route.Railway officials said the strong demand reflects a growing preference for modern trains offering shorter travel times, improved safety and enhanced comfort.The Vande Bharat sleeper has 16 coaches, including AC 3-tier, AC 2-tier and First AC, with a total passenger capacity of 823. It is equipped with advanced safety systems and upgraded passenger amenities.