Two Muslim street vendors selling non-vegetarian patties were assaulted by individuals associated with Hindutva ideology near a “Gita Path” event at Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata, prompting significant backlash from the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)], and renewed allegations of rising Hindutva vigilantism.
The incident occurred on Sunday, December 7, during an event organized by the Sanatan Sanskriti Sangsad, linked with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, which aimed to promote Sanatan Dharma.
The first victim, Sheikh Riyazul, a long-time vendor from Arambag with over 22 years in the business, reported that he was attacked shortly after disclosing his name. “They asked me my name. As soon as I told them, they started thrashing me. They made me do squats and threw away my food,” he described in a video that surfaced on social media.
In the footage, several men, some adorned with tilaks on their foreheads, are seen surrounding the vendor, pulling his ears, emptying his food container, and physically assaulting him. The second victim, identified as Md Salauddin from Kolkata’s Tiljala area, stated that he was attacked by three men for selling chicken patties and faced Islamophobic insults.
Kolkata police have filed two FIRs against unidentified assailants under non-bailable sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, accusing them of assault, unlawful assembly, destruction of property, and inciting religious disharmony. Authorities are actively working to identify the suspects involved.
The video evoked widespread condemnation, with opposition parties blaming the BJP and its affiliates for fostering what they term a “mob-lynching culture” and attempting to police Bengali food preferences. Sair Shah Halim, a CPI(M) leader and social activist, told Maktoob, “What happened is very unfortunate, transfiguring and unsettling because it’s not just about targeted attacks but also an attack on Kolkata’s food culture.”
Halim criticized the ruling party for not allowing such hatred to proliferate within the state and stated that opposition parties would unite to demand justice for the victims. TMC state general secretary Kunal Ghosh condemned the attackers, emphasizing the absurdity of violence against a vendor simply earning a living. He questioned why attendees wearing leather shoes faced no scrutiny during the religious event.
TMC spokesperson Arup Chakraborty described the assault as a threat to Bengal’s cultural identity, asserting that the “aggressive Hindutva heroes” perpetuating such acts were attempting to impose a “One Nation, One Religion” ideology on a state celebrated for its diverse culinary traditions. The party also circulated an animated video alleging that the BJP aims to restrict fish and meat consumption if their party gains power.
In contrast, the BJP dismissed the accusations levied against them. Party leader Debjit Sarkar defended the beliefs of those who objected to the sale of non-vegetarian food within the vicinity of a religious event, stating, “Can Gita Path be done after eating chicken patties? If a man enters a religious gathering with chicken patties, it shows reluctance and disrespect.”
The event also attracted attention from various political figures, including Governor CV Ananda Bose and prominent BJP leaders such as Union minister Sukanta Majumdar and Suvendu Adhikari, the Bengal assembly’s leader of the opposition.
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