West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has offered to cook for Prime Minister Narendra Modi but added that she is not sure whether he will eat what she prepares.
The TMC supremo was taking a swipe at PM Modi over his recent allegations that RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav last month had fish during Navratris, a period when some Hindus abstain from having non-vegetarian food.
Speaking at an election rally on Monday, Mamata criticised BJP for allegedly interfering with the food habits of the people and said she would be happy to cook food for PM Modi but is not sure "whether the PM will be ready to savour my cooked meal."
"I have been cooking since my childhood days. People have praised my cooking. But will Modi ji accept my food? Will he trust me? I will cook whatever he loves," she said.
Stepping up her attack, Mamata said that people have different eating habits and BJP has no business to impose its will on the people's dietary choices.
"I love both vegetarian foods like Dhokla and non-veg foods like macher jhol (fish curry). Different communities, and different sects among Hindus have their own unique rituals and eating habits. Who is BJP to impose a diktat on an individual's dietary habits? It shows the BJP leadership has little idea and concern about the diversity and inclusivity of India and its people," said.
However, Mamata's offer to cook for PM Modi, who is a vegetarian, invited sharp reactions from BJP.
Saying that "charity begins at home", former West Bengal BJP chief Tathagata Roy said that Mamata should first serve pork chop to her minister Firhad Hakim.
Pork is forbidden for Muslims since it is considered haram in Islam.
"Mamata Banerjee wants to feed Modi ji with fish and rice cooked by her. Good proposal. But before that, why doesn't she first offer pork chop to her lieutenant Firhad Hakim? It will serve three purposes, secularism will be asserted, it will show charity begins at home and the fritters will also be praised," Roy posted on X.
BJP leader Sankudeb Panda said Banerjee deliberately invited PM Modi, knowing well that he is a strict vegetarian.
"This is nothing but her ploy to trap the PM. She knows on the one hand the PM will never eat fish or any non-veg item. If she believes everyone should be allowed to eat what he/she loves to eat, then why is she twisting Modiji's comments about one's dietary habits? She is insulting devout Sanatani Hindus" he added.
Even CPM reacted to Mamata's remark, suggesting that it shows that Mamata is secretly supporting BJP.
CPM leader Bikash Bhattacharya said: "Being Dada-Bon (brother and sister), Mamata didi can certainly offer to cook meals for the prime minister, do not know if it is to placate him."
Bhattacharya was referring to the jibe - "Didibhai-Modibhai" that the Left and the Bengal Congress unit use to refer to the alleged tacit understanding between the BJP and the TMC.
The TMC supported Mamata's remarks and said she spoke about the unique religious, and cultural diversity of India and the theme of "unity in diversity".
"She spoke rightly and her comment regarding Modi stems from the fact that as Modi has the right to eat what he likes, every other Indian too has the same right," TMC MP Dola Sen told PTI.
(With inputs from PTI)
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