Mamata Banerjee offers to cook for PM Modi after fish consumption furor, receives flak from BJP

Addressing an election rally in Kolkata, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo said she was ready to "cook something for him (Modi)" if he wanted, but added that she was not sure whether he would consume the meal prepared by her.

"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 the 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." Banerjee said.

Banerjee made the remarks as she slammed the rival BJP for allegedly interfering with people's food choices after a row broke over the video of Tejashwi Yadav supposedly consuming fish during the Navratri.

However, her remarks did not go well with the BJP.

"Mamata Banerjee wants to feed Modiji rice and fish cooked by her. Good proposal. But before that, why doesn't she 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," former BJP state president and ex-Tripura Governor Tathagata Roy posted on X.

Last month, Prime Minister Modi accused opposition leaders of demonstrating a 'Mughal mindset' and "teasing" the people of the country by consuming non-vegetarian food in the holy month of Sawan and posting a video of it online.

He said eating non-vegetarian food during Navratri and Sawan hurt the feelings of people.

Seizing upon Modi's remarks, the TMC, the ruling party in West Bengal where consumption of non-vegetarian food during festivals is prevalent in Hindu households, has been alleging that Prime Minister Narendra Modi of having zero knowledge about the culture and eating habits of the people of the country