Monday, April 29

Opposition Reacts To PM Modi’s Remarks On Consuming Meat During Savan

Edited by Aishwarya Krishnan
"Outside Kerala, They Are BFFs": PM Modi Snubs Congress-Left Rivalry In The StateOpposition Reacts To PM Modi’s Remarks On Consuming Meat During Savan

Following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s subtle attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav for allegedly consuming meat during the month of Savan last year and thereby “disrespecting Hindu sentiments” of the people, leaders from the opposition have hit back.

In an X (formerly known as Twitter) post addressing PM Modi and his party, Shiv Sena UBT leader Priyanka Chaturvedi said that even as a strict vegetarian, her sentiments are not hurt by the food choices of others. Highlighting the rising unemployment and inflation rates, she added that what does hurt her sentiments is when people are rendered hungry because of the “growing distress, joblessness, and inflation.”

Rajya Sabha MP and TMC leader Saket Gokhale, wondering what was “more worrisome,” tweeted that the Prime Minister wanted to “dictate dietary habits of people” and what and when they could consume certain food items. “That self-professed “Hindu” Modi” is unaware that Sawan began on July 22, he said. Questioning why PM Modi had become “so rattled,” he mockingly added, “actual election survey results and IB reports finally coming in to his office?”

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh used this opportunity to cite various statistics regarding nutritional data points while mocking PM Modi. He said, “Unlike the Prime Minister, we have not tracked which leader ate what in which month. Here are the nutrition data points that we are tracking instead.” He highlighted that the rate of anaemia in children has risen by 9.2 percent, that the Finance Ministry has vetoed a Rs 400 crore scheme to include breakfast in the Mid-Day Meal program, and that the GHI report showed India’s rate of malnutrition stood at 18.7 percent – the highest among the list of countries.

Jairam Ramesh stated, “Every day the Prime Minister provides us with a new example of his sick mindset. The Prime Minister’s non-stop politicking is infantile and tiresome.” He added that while Congress had began its election campaign by publishing the party manifesto, campaigning door-to-door and more, the BJP had barely put together its manifesto and a “panicky Prime Minister is trying to find a new diversion every day.”

Although PM Modi did not outrightly name Rahul Gandhi and Lalu Yadav, he referred to the viral video released in September last year wherein both leaders can be seen cooking mutton together. Comparing them with the Mughals, PM Modi said that the Congress and INDIA Alliance enjoy playing with the sentiments of the majority of the people by releasing the video of them cooking mutton in the month of Savan, just like how the Mughals enjoyed demolishing temples. The Prime Minister made these remarks during an election rally in Udhampur, Jammu and Kashmir, on Friday.

Notably, in India, 83.4 percent of men and 70.6 percent of women from the age group of 15–49 years consume non-vegetarian food daily, weekly or occasionally, according to a recent National Family Health Survey (NFHS).