PM Modi KOLKATA: Bengal’s favourite ‘maachh-bhaat’ filled the poll plate on Thursday as PM Narendra Modi accused Trinamool Congress of failing to feed the piscine-loving state enough fish, seeking to turn on its head a debate triggered by CM Mamata Banerjee’s party portraying BJP as being “anti-non-vegetarian”. In Haldia, where he addressed the first of his three poll rallies for the day, the PM spoke extensively about Bengal underperforming in fish production under successive TMC govts. “In 15 years, TMC couldn’t even give you fish. We created a separate ministry for fisheries,” Modi said. “Bihar and Assam used to import fish. Now, they are self-sufficient, having doubled their fish production. Bengal will also become self-reliant if BJP is voted to office.” Mamata responded to PM Modi’s comments on “inadequate” fish production by insisting that the dependence on imports from Andhra and Bihar “has gone”. “You don’t let people speak in Bengali. And then you come here to give us a lesson in fish production. You needn’t worry about fish production in Bengal. First, answer why Bengalis in other states are stopped from eating fish or meat. I am not saying everyone must eat non-vegetarian food, but diet should be a matter of personal choice,” she said. Modi followed up his fish dig at TMC in Haldia by contrasting the party’s alleged strategy of governing by “fear” with BJP’s focus on building “trust”, saying Bengal had become “a factory of infiltrators and bombs”. The PM bemoaned what he termed “lack of industrialisation and jobs”, blaming its “reign of fear and intimidation” for industry taking flight. “The nation is exporting weapons made in India, but TMC has opened a cottage industry for crude bombs here,” he said, also accusing the governing party of encouraging cattle smuggling. He said Mamata govt stalled central projects worth Rs 75,000 crore in state out of spite. (WIth inputs from Suman Mandal & Mohammad Asif)About the AuthorRohit KhannaRohit Khanna covers sectors like government finance, economy, industry and issues related to financial crime.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos‘Glimmer Of Hope’: Mauritius PM Hails India’s Support Amid Iran Crisis, Eyes Key Oil And Gas DealElection Season Kicks Off With Record Voter Turnout In Assam, Puducherry As Kerala Clocks 77% VotingIndia Withdraws Bid To Host COP33 In 2028 — Here’s Why The Government ReconsideredIndia Ramps Up Gulf Outreach: Hardeep Puri Heads To Qatar, Jaishankar to UAE After US-Iran TruceAre You A ‘Worker’ Or Just An Employee? India’s Labour Codes ExplainedDelhi’s Gas Shift: IGL Asks Residents to Move from LPG to PNG Amid Supply PushIndia Tells Seafarers To Remain Indoors As Iran War Puts Strait of Hormuz On EdgeOperation Sindoor Signals India’s Shift To Multi-Domain, Data-Driven Warfare : General DwivediWorld Bank Raises India’s FY27 Growth Forecast to 6.6%, Flags Global Risks From West Asia Conflict’Topple Didi At Any Cost?’ TMC Releases Viral Sting Video To Target Humayun Kabir, BJP Denies Link123PhotostoriesPlastic vs. stainless steel casserole: Which is healthier and safer for storing rotisKhatron Ke Khiladi 15 probable contestants list: Farrhana Bhat, Gaurav Khanna to Manisha Rani likely to join Rohit Shetty’s showHeavyweights line up to vote as Puducherry holds assembly pollsHeavyweights line up to vote as Puducherry holds assembly polls5 elegant bridal picks for a simple court wedding beyond the lehengaNavi Mumbai’s luxury real estate boom: Developers shaping the premium market7 refreshing chutneys made with vegetable peels to keep the gut cool in summer8 unique animals that exist only in Australia and look unrealBest Hollywood horror movies streaming on OTT right now: ‘Hereditary’ and ‘The Conjuring’ to ‘The Ritual’Your biggest weakness you should never ignore; based on your number123Hot PicksIran war ceasefirePAN Card application 2026Purple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingCandace OwensCardi BTiger WoodsMrBeastUS stock marketPAN Card application 2026Bhojshala disputeIPL Points TableSchool Holidays in AprilChar Dham Yatra 2026
KOLKATA: Bengal’s favourite ‘maachh-bhaat’ filled the poll plate on Thursday as PM Narendra Modi accused Trinamool Congress of failing to feed the piscine-loving state enough fish, seeking to turn on its head a debate triggered by CM Mamata Banerjee’s party portraying BJP as being “anti-non-vegetarian”. In Haldia, where he addressed the first of his three poll rallies for the day, the PM spoke extensively about Bengal underperforming in fish production under successive TMC govts. “In 15 years, TMC couldn’t even give you fish. We created a separate ministry for fisheries,” Modi said. “Bihar and Assam used to import fish. Now, they are self-sufficient, having doubled their fish production. Bengal will also become self-reliant if BJP is voted to office.“ Mamata responded to PM Modi’s comments on “inadequate” fish production by insisting that the dependence on imports from Andhra and Bihar “has gone”. “You don’t let people speak in Bengali. And then you come here to give us a lesson in fish production. You needn’t worry about fish production in Bengal. First, answer why Bengalis in other states are stopped from eating fish or meat. I am not saying everyone must eat non-vegetarian food, but diet should be a matter of personal choice,” she said. Modi followed up his fish dig at TMC in Haldia by contrasting the party’s alleged strategy of governing by “fear” with BJP’s focus on building “trust”, saying Bengal had become “a factory of infiltrators and bombs”. The PM bemoaned what he termed “lack of industrialisation and jobs”, blaming its “reign of fear and intimidation” for industry taking flight. “The nation is exporting weapons made in India, but TMC has opened a cottage industry for crude bombs here,” he said, also accusing the governing party of encouraging cattle smuggling. He said Mamata govt stalled central projects worth Rs 75,000 crore in state out of spite. (WIth inputs from Suman Mandal & Mohammad Asif)
