- Congress feast in Ayodhya served fish, sparking BJP criticism over religious sentiments
- BJP leaders, including Yogi Adityanath, condemned fish served during holy month of Sawan
- Congress MP Pawan Khera said Ajay Rai is a vegetarian and rejected BJP’s claim as a diversion from key issues
A feast organised by the Congress party to welcome its Uttar Pradesh chief Ajay Rai in the temple town of Ayodhya has ignited a bitter exchange with the ruling BJP over the dish that was served - fish curry.
BJP leaders including UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath have questioned the Congress for serving fish in the "abode" of Lord Ram and home to the Ram temple. The ruling party leaders also reminded the Congress that the holy months of Sawan have not ended yet and eating fish during this time hurt sentiments.
Congress MP Pawan Khera said Ajay Rai is a vegetarian and rejected the BJP's charge as an attempt to divert attention of the public from critical issues like exam paper leaks and the Ram temple donations theft case.
Rai told reporters he would like to challenge BJP leaders to show a single photo of him eating fish and he would gladly resign. "If he does not have the photo then he should resign from his post. He lies everyday, wearing saffron clothes," Rai said, alluding to UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who had slammed the state Congress chief over the matter.
Visuals from the Congress's event venue showed people washing and cutting fish and some chopping onions and other vegetables near a large tub laden with fried fish. A fabric wall divided the cooking area from the large tent where the Congress held its programme, keeping the outdoor kitchen out of view.
A few local residents protested when they came to know about the dish served at the event. Soon, BJP leaders joined in criticising the Congress leaders for disrespecting the temple town and hurting sentiments.
"You must have seen how Congress members show disrespect for our heritage. The Congress president visits Ayodhya to offer prayers at Hanuman Garhi temple and then proceeds to feast on fish. They chant 'Ram Ram', yet there is a limit to shamelessness," Yogi Adityanath said.
"Who asked them to visit Hanuman Garhi? If they wanted to eat fish, they could have simply gone outside Ayodhya," said, adding it showed the "duplicitous nature of the Congress."
"Even a chameleon would likely feel embarrassed seeing them, wondering what kind of species has appeared in human form chanting 'Ram Ram'... only to step outside and feast on fish," the chief minister said.
Congress leader Ram Nihal Nishad had organised the feast to welcome the state's party chief and celebrate new members who recently joined his outfit. He defended the decision to serve fish to guests and sought to know what violation and, in a swipe at the BJP, under what law would such an act be considered unlawful.
"What's wrong with eating food? Why can't we eat fish? Since the Constitution came into effect on January 26, 1950, anyone can eat anything," Nishad said. He said that for the Nishad community, fishing and eating fish are part of tradition.
According to reports, Rai went to the event after visiting temples. While the programme was going on, it started raining due to which Rai and many others left.
UP ministers Om Prakash Rajbhar and Brajesh Pathak said Congress leaders do not believe in religion but only pretend to believe.
"Ayodhya Dham is our holy site; it is the abode of Lord Ram Lalla and to have this kind of feast there, and that too in the month of Sawan, this reflects the culture of the Congress," Pathak said.
