While we have all heard of various cuisines—Indian, Mexican, Thai, Italian, and more—the nation’s elections have now taken on a flavorful twist, replete with Mughal spices. During the election period, Rahul Gandhi was seen preparing mutton during the month of Shravan, which sparked a series of photos and videos across social media. As Navratri commenced, a video of Tejashwi Yadav enjoying fish surfaced, adding to the Mughal tinge of the election when Prime Minister Modi, without naming names, accused the Lalu family and Rahul Gandhi of provoking by posting such videos during the sacred months of Shravan and Navratri.
In India, a predominantly Hindu nation, non-vegetarians outnumber vegetarians. Out of a population of 1.4 billion, 57% of men and 45% of women consume non-vegetarian food. Questions are raised: Can eating fish become a political issue? Does one's diet define their religion or identity? Are Hindus supposed to be strictly vegetarian, and are those who consume non-vegetarian deemed irreligious?
Understanding the Whole Affair
The trail of questions began seven months ago during Shravan, a sacred month for Hindus. While Lalu Yadav’s household saw mutton preparation, videos surfaced featuring Rahul Gandhi learning how to cook it. Months later, when the first day of Chaitra Navratri began, Tejashwi Yadav posted a video of himself eating fish the day before. The use of such videos in elections has sparked debates about Mughal mentality, showcasing how politicians target votes through cultural and religious sentiments.
People Enjoy Playing with Others' Emotions: PM
Addressing a public gathering, PM Modi targeted the non-vegetarian food videos, suggesting enjoyment in provoking others' emotions. He highlighted that those who are out on bail or convicted find it amusing to cook mutton during the holy month of Shravan and post videos to irritate the public. Law doesn't stop anyone from eating what they want, and neither does Modi. Everyone is free to choose their meals.
PM Modi then made a reference to historical Mughal invasions where conquering a kingdom wasn't sufficient—temples had to be destroyed to satisfy their conquest. He insinuated this mindset lingers in the behaviour of certain politicians who post non-vegetarian food videos during holy months to needle the majority community and secure their vote bank.
These Three Questions Echo Loud
Are the politicians Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav the ones causing the stir, or is it PM Modi who's cleverly weaving Mughal narratives into his politics to attract voters? Questions like the extent of non-vegetarian eaters in India, the motivation behind these video postings, and the repercussions of PM Modi highlighting this issue predominate the dialogue.
