LUCKNOW/AYODHYA: A fish feast organised at a political meeting of the local Nishad community in Ayodhya’s Tarun area on Sunday to welcome UP Congress president Ajay Rai triggered a controversy.A video showing fish being cooked at the venue, a marriage lawn, surfaced after the event and quickly drew political reactions, with BJP leaders accusing the Congress of hurting religious sentiments by serving fish during Sawan.The controversy assumed significance as Rai had earlier in the day visited Hanumangarhi, where he recited the Hanuman Chalisa, and later offered prayers at the Ram temple before travelling to Tarun, around 38km away.BJP MLA Ved Prakash Gupta criticised the Congress, saying, “scores of Hindus are immersed in the worship of Lord Shiva during Sawan. Organising a fish feast at such a time is an open display of Congress’ anti-Hindu mindset.”He alleged that visiting temples in Ayodhya and then attending an event where fish was served exposed the Congress party’s “dual standards”.UP BJP president Pankaj Chaudhary termed the event “highly condemnable and unforgivable” and demanded that Congress publicly apologise to saints and devotees.Congress district president Chet Narayan Singh sought to distance himself from the controversy. “I do not know about the fish feast. We had accompanied the state president and returned with him. If this happened, Ram Nihal Nishad should not have done it,” he said.Ram Nihal Nishad, who recently switched from BJP to Congress and is seeking a party ticket from Gosainganj assembly constituency, told reporters, “The Constitution does not say anywhere that fish cannot be eaten during Sawan. We are following the Constitution.” He said both vegetarian food and fish were prepared at the event.When contacted on Monday, UP Congress president Ajay Rai defended the event, saying it was organised by members of the Nishad community, for whom fish is an important part of their food culture.“Yeh Nishad samaj ka karyakram tha. Nishad samaj machhli ka vyapar karta hai. Unke liye machhli sabse achha bhojan hai jo woh kisi ko de sakte hain… and how can one check a host from cooking what they want,” Rai said.He also questioned the allegation that his presence at the event amounted to a violation of Sanatan traditions. “Where is the proof that I violated Sanatan tradition?” he asked.Rai further drew a parallel with BJP leaders while hitting back at the criticism. Referring to BJP national president Nitin Nabin and an earlier controversy over non-vegetarian food, he said, “Nitin Nabin consumed non-vegetarian food in Andhra Pradesh and claimed that he had eaten jackfruit. They are treating me with the same lens.”
