Amid recent tensions in bilateral relations, there is talk in diplomatic circles about a possible restoration of normal diplomacy between India and Bangladesh. However, few know that it was West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee who inspired the Yunus government in Dhaka to revive a tradition that had earlier been established by her predecessor Sheikh Hasina. It appears that Mamata sent a large consignment of Bengal’s famous Himsagar and Langra mangoes to Bangladesh’s Chief Advisor Mohammad Yunus, who took charge after Hasina was ousted following massive student protests.
Yunus promptly responded by sending her a return gift of Bangladesh’s Haribhanga mangoes. Mamata was not the only recipient. She also sent mango gift boxes to prominent figures in the New Delhi political establishment, including President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and several Cabinet ministers. Interestingly, she sent a box of mangoes to senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, but not to Rahul Gandhi, even though he holds the statutory position of Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha. Perhaps Bangladesh’s Chief Advisor assumed that sending mangoes to the head of the Gandhi family covered everyone else in it.
An unexpected political figure on this list was Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, who is currently at odds with his own party. He too received a box of mangoes from Bangladesh. Apart from Sonia Gandhi and some Trinamool Congress MPs, he is perhaps the only non-BJP leader included in this high-profile list — clearly, he has admirers in Dhaka. The arrival of the mangoes from Dhaka created quite a stir in diplomatic circles, where it is being seen as a peace offering from Yunus. The Chief Advisor has already caused a buzz in New Delhi for his increasingly friendly posture toward China.
Politicization of Food Habits
It seems food habits have once again become politicized, as a section of Hindutva devotees is running a campaign against consuming non-vegetarian food during the month of Sawan. This period is considered sacred by some Hindus, who refrain from eating meat for religious reasons. However, the campaign is becoming increasingly embarrassing after RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav recently posted a video from an NDA meeting in Patna that showed the Kashmiri dish Rogan Josh being served at the buffet lunch. Rogan Josh is made from mutton, and the label on the dish is clearly visible in the video.
Yadav accused the devotees of engaging in ‘selective politics’ over differing food habits. He claimed that at least three ministers in the Bihar NDA cabinet consume mutton daily, even during Sawan. Recently, a mob of right-wing activists attacked a KFC outlet in Uttar Pradesh and forced it to shut down because chicken was being served there.
Bihar BJP spokesperson Manoj Sharma responded sharply to Yadav’s sarcastic post about the BJP and its supporters’ “hypocrisy.” The spokesperson said that Rogan Josh was served by the event organizers, but not a single guest tasted it.