‘Buy biryani from Hindu shops’ poster campaign sparks row in Bengal's Siliguri ahead of Durga Puja
A poster campaign by the Hindu Jagaran Manch in Siliguri, West Bengal, urging residents to patronize Hindu-owned businesses for Durga Puja, has sparked a political controversy. Opposition parties and local residents have criticized the move as communal and divisive.
Why it matters
The incident reflects rising communal tensions and debates over secularism in regional Indian politics.
A poster campaign by the Hindu Jagaran Manch urging people to buy biryani and puja articles from shops owned by Hindus triggered a controversy here, the largest town in the northern part of West Bengal.
The posters were put up across the city by the Hindu Jagaran Manch, an affiliate of the RSS, ahead of the Durga Puja festivities.
The organisation stated that messages like "Eat biryani at a Hindu shop" and "Buy puja articles from Hindu shops" are not a diktat.
Hindu Jagaran Manch member Abhishek Das, who is leading the campaign, said, "This is not a diktat but an appeal. If people support businesses run by Hindus, it will also impact the local economy."
Senior CPI(M) leader and former minister Asok Bhattacharya demanded police action against those behind the posters.
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