A political controversy has broken out in West Bengal ahead of Durga Puja over posters urging people to purchase biryani and puja articles from shops owned by Hindu owners, with opposition parties seeking police action in the case.
The Siliguri incident is unacceptable as taste cannot be bound by religious boundaries. Biryani from a Hindu-owned shop could taste excellent or a Muslim-owned shop’s biryani could have a wonderful flavour, food is defined by taste, not religion. Such decrees cannot be accepted,” Trinamool spokesperson and Beleghata MLA Kunal Ghosh was quoted as saying by the Times of India. Senior CPI(M) leader and former minister Asok Bhattacharya demanded police action over the posters. Local residents also criticised the posters, saying Bengalis have always enjoyed biryani without raising doubts about its preparation. They further mentioned the contributions of Muslim artisans while making Durga Puja decorations.
Left parties said the Constitution guarantees equal rights to people of all religions and that religion should not determine a person’s livelihood. They also said the appeal undermined the state’s long-standing traditions of social harmony and freedom.
