Shukto (a Bengali starter) alu-jhinge posto (mashed poppy seed), fulkopir torkari (potato-cauliflower curry) and other Bengali delicacies graced Amit Shah’s platter for lunch on Wednesday. It was a dream come true experience for party member Manas Sen, a resident of north Kolkata’s Cossipore Lock Gate slum, who turned host for the BJP national president and arranged for a scrumptious meal comprising vegetarian Bengali delicacies.
Amit Shah is on a three-day trip to Kolkata with an aim to expand the party’s base in Bengal ahead of the Panchayat polls next year. Sen, a shopping mall worker is a dweller of north Kolkata’s Cossipore Lock Gate slum where sunlight does not even penetrate properly. He was informed about the party supremo’s visit a few days in advance and he started preparing immediately. Manas’ family decorated the entrance of their house with saffron balloons.
Shah was accompanied by BJP national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya, party national secretary Rahul Sinha, party state chief Dilip Ghosh and others. As soon as Shah made his way through the narrow lanes of Lock Gate he was greeted with a glass of fresh fruit juice. After this, he was served a proper Bengali thali prepared by Manas’ mother Monica Sen. Food was served in earthen plates and glasses. The earthen plates were decorated with banana leaf. The menu consisted of gobindabhog rice, moong dal, bitter gourd, brinjal, raw banana and ladies’ finger fry, papaya chutney, doi and mishti (sweets).
The guests sat on the floor on handwoven ashons (seat made of cloth) and enjoyed the meal. After the main course, they were served fruits for dessert. After lunch, he listened to the problems faced by residents of the area. Shah later took to Twitter to express his gratitude. “I thank our karyakarta Shri Manas Sen ji and his family for the sumptuous Bengali cuisine at their home in Kolkata.”
The last time Shah visited Kolkata, in April, he had lunch with a party member at his residence in Mamata Banerjee’s very own Bhabanipur Vidhan Sabha constituency.
As per reports, Trinamool-backed goons had attacked every house in Kalighat which Shah had visited. Also, the tribal couple from Naxalbari, Raju and Geeta Mahali, who hosted Shah at their residence were allegedly abducted and forced to join TMC within a week.
