West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee and State BJP chief Samik Bhattacharya (Images/Agencies)

NEW DELHI: Amid a political row over alleged restrictions on the open sale of fish and meat in Bihar, West Bengal BJP president Samik Bhattacharya on Thursday asserted that people in Bengal are free to consume the food of their choice and clarified that the party is only opposed to the open sale of beef.The controversy began after senior Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders, including West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, criticised what they described as a BJP-backed move against non-vegetarian food habits. The remarks were linked to a recent order by the Bihar government regulating the open sale of meat.Responding to the allegations, Bhattacharya said, “People in Bengal will eat whatever they want to eat. Bengal will have its fish and meat,” rejecting claims by the TMC of a proposed ban on fish and meat sales in the open in the neighbouring state.Elaborating on the Bihar directive, he added that the BJP had not proposed any blanket restriction. “They can never utter such a thing. Why should they? None will accept it. The TMC is twisting the comments,” he said.Bhattacharya further stated that no such ban exists and that people in Bihar or West Bengal would not abide by it if such a measure were introduced, news agency PTI reported. Drawing a distinction, he maintained that the BJP’s stand was limited to opposing the open sale of beef. “Only that stuff you sell in the open will not be allowed by the BJP,” he said.Earlier, Mamata Banerjee had raised concerns over the reported directive in Bihar, pointing to the livelihood impact on small traders. She said, “I came across a report about the Bihar deputy chief minister asserting that fish and meat cannot be sold in the open market. This is anti-people and condemnable. Can everyone sell meat and fish in shopping malls? What will happen to the majority of fish and meat sellers on the road? What about their livelihood issue? Such politics is deplorable.”Addressing the issue again, Banerjee alleged, “If BJP comes to power, they would ban meat and fish in Bengal. I saw Bihar’s deputy CM say that fish and meat can’t be sold in open markets. Only those who have a licence can sell meat indoors. So, will everyone sell meat and fish in shopping malls? Only a few have the economic strength to do so. Most fish sellers sell fresh fish on the streets here. This is how they earn their bread. I condemn this politics.”