A month after post of a BJP-led Madhya Pradesh MLA's posters, Siliguri in north Bengal has seen posters asking people to buy biryani only from Hindu shops ahead of Durga Puja celebrations.
Posters appeared across town, particularly near Hindu shops, appealing to allow only Hindu biryani sellers. "Appealed to allow only Hindu biryani shops, but also asked Hindus to buy only from Hindu-owned biryani shops," said Ravik Bhattacharya report. Leaders of organisation that pasted posters said they will not allow Muslim biryani sellers during Puja.
Police have registered case. Siliguri Police Commissioner said posters are divisive.
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The timing matters. Siliguri is gateway to Northeast, has mixed population, and Puja is when biryani sales peak. The posters come amid larger national trend calls to boycott Muslim-owned shops during Hindu festivals, seen in Karnataka, Uttarakhand and UP earlier this year.
Organisers claimed it is about purity during Puja. "We will obviously have biryani, but we want to buy from Hindu shops only. We appealed to allow only Hindu shops because during Puja, we want to maintain purity," said organizer. They also claimed many Muslim biryani shops use "halal" meat which Hindus should avoid during Puja.
Opposition called it hate campaign. TMC leader said it is BJP's attempt to create communal divide in Bengal which has tradition of communal harmony. BJP state leadership distanced itself, saying it is not party's official line, but local Hindu groups' sentiment.
Food has become new faultline. From halal vs jhatka to veg-only housing, what you eat is now political statement. Biryani, a Mughlai dish that Bengal adopted and made its own with potato, is now being communalised.
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Siliguri's administration faces test: allow free speech or act against hate? If posters stay, Muslim vendors lose livelihood during peak season. If removed forcibly, organisers claim victimhood.
Bengal's Puja has always been about inclusion - Muslim artisans make Durga idols, dhakis come from all communities. To say eat biryani only from Hindus is to shrink that inclusive spirit into a shop signboard.
Tags: #Siliguri #Biryani #DurgaPuja #HinduShop #CommunalHarmony #Bengal #FoodApartheid #HatePoster #NorthBengal