The row over the origin of Rasgola between Odisha and West Bengal has turned more bitter.
Following Odisha’s latest claim that the famous sweet originated in the State over 600 years ago, a West Bengal Minister has again asserted his State’s sole proprietorship over it.
There is enough documentary evidence to prove that Rasgola belongs to Bengal, West Bengal Science and Technology Minister Rabiranjan Chattopadhyay reportedly stated in Kolkata on Saturday.
He said no other State has the ‘gola’ (roundish) sweets and it is exclusive to West Bengal. Though Odisha argues that Rasgola originated there 600 years ago, they have not shown any documentary proof,” he maintained.
The Odisha Government has set up three committees to look into the evidence
regarding the origin of Rasgola in the State. Odisha asserts that Rasgola was first served at the 12th-century lord Jagannath temple in Puri while Bengal only traces it back to 150 years.
West Bengal has already submitted an application detailed with dossiers for a GI (Geographical Indication) tag for Rasagola to beat Odisha in the race. West Bengal is claiming that Nabin Chandra Das had introduced the sweet in 1868.