A fresh political storm has erupted in West Bengal as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accused the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) of hurting Hindu sentiments by allegedly assigning the preparation and distribution of Lord Jagannath’s Mahaprasad to Muslim-owned sweet shops in Digha. The controversy comes just days ahead of the annual Rath Yatra celebrations.
🔥 BJP Alleges “Targeted Sacrilege”
BJP IT Cell head and Bengal co-observer Amit Malviya took to social media platform X to share a purported list of vendors involved in preparing sacred offerings like gaja and pera, claiming several names belonged to Muslim shop owners. He called the move a “deliberate provocation” and an act of “targeted sacrilege” against Sanatan Dharma.
“In Puri, even today, non-Hindus are not allowed to enter the Jagannath Temple due to religious customs. Yet in Mamata Banerjee’s Bengal, prasad for Lord Jagannath is being prepared by individuals who do not follow the faith,” Malviya wrote.
🛐 TMC Defends Initiative as Inclusive
The TMC responded by defending the statewide Mahaprasad distribution drive, launched by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, as an act of devotion aimed at making the blessings of Lord Jagannath accessible to all. Senior TMC leader Firhad Hakim dismissed the BJP’s allegations as “mean thinking”, stating, “Bhagawan is for everyone and his prasad is also for everyone”.
🗣️ Opposition Leader Joins Criticism
Suvendu Adhikari, Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, echoed Malviya’s concerns, accusing the TMC of “demeaning Hindu traditions” by sourcing prasad from local shops instead of temple kitchens.
📦 Prasad Distribution Model Under Scrutiny
According to BJP leaders, district administrations were instructed to procure sweets from local vendors for distribution through Duare Ration outlets, with ₹20 allocated per prasad box. The BJP claims this undermines the sanctity of the offering, while the TMC insists the prasad is being sourced from the temple and distributed to ensure inclusivity.
Stay tuned for more developments on this unfolding political and cultural debate.
