The West Bengal government, led by the Trinamool Congress (TMC), has ignited controversy by distributing “prasad” from the newly constructed Digha Jagannath temple. The principal opposition party, the BJP, accuses Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of exploiting the Rath Yatra festival to court the Hindu community ahead of the state Assembly elections scheduled for early 2026.
The BJP has long criticized Banerjee for purportedly indulging in “minority appeasement.” Now, they allege her government is misusing state funds and resources in its prasad distribution efforts, claiming the initiative includes “halal prasad.”
The TMC is undertaking a door-to-door distribution of prasad to over 10.4 million households across the state. In a social media post, the TMC announced, “At the gracious initiative of Smt. @MamataOfficial, the divine Mahaprasad of Lord Jagannath from Digha is now reaching homes across Bengal. From today until 27th June, you can collect your sacred Prasad box from your nearest ration shop.”
Each prasad box features a photo of Lord Jagannath, along with two traditional sweets, peda and gaja, with the total cost of Rs 20 covered by the state government. Additional state funds have been allocated for packaging and distribution, with sweets prepared by combining offerings from the temple with local sweet shops across the districts.
The TMC is utilizing its “Duare Ration” (ration at doorstep) initiative to facilitate this home delivery, which began on June 17 and will continue until July 4. The government has instructed district administrations to ensure efficient distribution, directing local officials to arrange clean venues for receiving and storing the prasad boxes. Self-help groups and other organizations are assisting in the packaging process, and TMC leaders are actively involved in ensuring widespread distribution.
In response to the TMC’s initiative, BJP Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari announced a counter-campaign, distributing prasad from the Jagannath temple in Puri at a temple in Tamluk for five days starting from the Rath Yatra festival on June 27. Tamluk and Digha are both located in the Purba Medinipur district, Adhikari’s stronghold, where he notably defeated Banerjee in the Nandigram constituency during the 2021 Assembly elections.
State BJP president and Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar criticized the TMC’s efforts, claiming, “Mamata Banerjee has turned Rath into politics. She is trying to act as Hindu.” He questioned what actions she has taken to prevent temple vandalism in Samserganj during recent riots.
On the topic of Adhikari’s prasad distribution, Majumdar remarked, “If someone wants to distribute prasad, what harm is there? Our issue with Digha is that they claim it is a cultural center, not a temple, and are politicizing the situation. She (Mamata) is distributing halal prasad— is that acceptable?”
Majumdar’s criticism of “halal prasad” stems from allegations that Muslim sweet shops in Murshidabad were contracted to prepare the sweets for the prasad. BJP leader Amit Malviya accused Banerjee of disregarding Hindu sentiments in West Bengal, asserting that “sweet shops and ration dealers — the majority of them Muslim — have been tasked with preparing and distributing Gaja and Pera, labeled as Prabhu Jagannath Dev’s sacred prasad.” He condemned this as not just administrative negligence but a calculated provocation.
BJP general secretary Jagannath Chattopadhyay also raised issues of financial misconduct, suggesting that the TMC government is distributing one gaja and pera for an exorbitant price, leading to questions about the state’s financial crisis and a lack of support for employees.
The Digha Jagannath temple, modeled after the famous temple in Puri, Odisha, was built by the West Bengal Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation and inaugurated by Banerjee on April 30. She is expected to attend the Rath Yatra in Digha on June 27.
In retaliation, the TMC accused the BJP of being “anti-Hindu” for targeting their initiative. They claimed that both Majumdar and Adhikari have insulted Hindu sentiments. The prasad distribution controversy signifies the intensifying political polarization in Bengal ahead of the Assembly polls. Analysts note that while the TMC seeks to counter BJP’s narrative of “appeasement,” the BJP aims to solidify Hindu support-a dynamic reflected in the ongoing prasad distribution efforts by both parties.
Original Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/kolkata/in-trinamool-vs-bjp-battle-why-jagannath-prasad-has-become-a-new-flashpoint-10091407/
Category: Cities,Kolkata
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Publish Date: 2025-06-27 04:22:00
