Poha and Bangladeshis. It is bizarre to see any linkage between the two, but BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya thinks otherwise. He kicked up a row by claiming some construction workers to be Bangladeshis just because they ate flattened rice (poha).
When Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a similar remarks last month by saying that people who are setting fire (to property) can be seen on TV and can be identified by the clothes they are wearing, it caused a countrywide outrage. Vijayvargiya’s claim to identify illegal migrants from Bangladesh by their poha-eating habit triggered both amusement and uproar.
While the BJP tried to play down Vijayvargiya’s claim, the Congress cited it as an instance to caution what the National Population Register (NPR) exercise will entail.
Vijayvargiya had, at an event in Indore on Thursday to support the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, said that he suspected that some of the construction labourers working at his house were Bangladeshis by noticing their strange habit of eating only poha. Vijayvarigiya was mocked by the twitterati.
Poha, a popular breakfast dish, is eaten across north India with no particular connect with Bangladesh as suspected by Vijayvargiya.
BJP leader and Union Minister Prakash Javadekar termed it as a non-issue. Asked about Vijayvargiya’s comments, which have drawn flak from several quarters, Javadekar told reporters here, “I also eat poha and serve it to you (journalists). So it’s a non-issue”.
Meanwhile, Congress leader Sushmita Dev slammed the comment stating that the BJP which can judge nationality by food, will use NPR to profile people. Mumbai Congress too tweeted, “Kanda POHA is a favorite food of Mumbaikars. We will be more than happy to host Sh.@KailashOnline over a plate of scrumptious #Poha, whenever he is in Mumbai.”
In West Bengal the ruling Trinamool Congress and Opposition Congress and CPI(M) in West Bengal on Friday slammed Vijayvargiya. “The statement is not an isolated one but a reflection of the “racist and communal” mindset of the present BJP dispensation, the parties said.
Senior TMC leader and State Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Tapas Roy said such racist and communal statements are reflection of BJP’s “anti-Bengali” mindset.
“We all know that the BJP is an anti-Bengali party. Such communal statements only reflect that mindset. The BJP and its leaders don’t know anything about Bengal, its culture and eating habits and are dreaming of ruling Bengal. They would get a befitting reply for insulting Bengalis,” he said.
Roy’s views were echoed by CPI(M) Politburo member Mohammed Salim, who alleged that the BJP is trying to do a racial profiling of the country.
“Just because someone is not eating roti does not make him a Bangladeshi. Poha, which is known as chirey in this part of the country, is a staple diet and is very popular as breakfast food. What is BJP trying to do? They are trying to racially profile the country on the basis of dress code, eating habits and lifestyle,” Salim said.
He also said Vijayvargiya’s comments are “just an extension” of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remark that those indulging in violence over the citizenship law could be identified by their attires.
Leader of Congress in the Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury too criticised Vijayvragiya and said his comments are an “insult to the people of West Bengal”.
