“Mamata Didi offers to cook for PM Narendra Modi”. 

Lok Sabha 24 : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s offer to “cook food” for Prime Minister Narendra Modi has sparked several reactions from different political parties. While the BJP dismissed it as a “political agenda,” the CPI(M) characterized it as an “understanding” between the TMC and the saffron party.

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.

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.

Emphasizing the diversity of dietary habits among communities, Banerjee defended individual choices and criticized the BJP for imposing restrictions on food habits. However, her offer sparked sharp reactions from the saffron camp. Former BJP state president Tathagata Roy mocked Banerjee’s offer, while BJP leader Sankudeb Panda accused her of trying to trap Modi by deliberately inviting him, knowing he is a strict vegetarian.

Reacting to Ms Banerjee’s comments, 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.” Mr 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.

He said such comments in the backdrop of her public posturing against “Modi’s politics and divisive speeches show an apparent contradiction” in what she publicly says and preaches in private.

“Both Mamata Banerjee and Narendra Modi are responsible for bringing the country to such a state. Both are mixing politics with religion,” he added.

The TMC, however, supported the party supremo’s remark 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.