'Vegetarian-only' Vande Bharat sleeper: TMC lashes out at PM Modi, BJP

The All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) has launched a sharp political attack on the Centre, alleging that the BJP-led government is attempting to impose cultural and dietary choices on Bengalis, after reports emerged that fish and meat have been removed from the menu on a Vande Bharat train connecting West Bengal and Assam.

In a strongly worded social media post, the party accused the Centre of extending what it called a pattern of “policing”—first electoral choices and now food habits.

The post came days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the introduction of a new Vande Bharat sleeper service for Bengal, a move the TMC claimed was being undercut by policies that disregard regional food cultures.

According to the TMC, the Vande Bharat service running between Bengal and Assam now offers only vegetarian food options, despite both regions being known for their deep-rooted non-vegetarian culinary traditions.

The party argued that removing fish and meat from the onboard menu reflects a “monolithic mindset” that fails to recognise India’s cultural diversity.

The TMC’s statement went beyond the train menu issue, linking it to a broader political narrative. It alleged that Bengalis who consume fish have previously been mocked, cited instances where fish sales were allegedly restricted in parts of Delhi, and referred to reported incidents of street vendors being assaulted for selling non-vegetarian food.

While the post did not provide fresh evidence, it framed these incidents as part of what it described as a larger ideological project.

“Today it’s what we eat. Tomorrow it’s what we wear. Who we love. How we live,” the party said, warning against what it termed an erosion of personal freedoms. The TMC coined the phrase “Banchte Chai, BJP Tai” to describe what it sees as coercive politics aimed at forcing cultural conformity, particularly in Bengal.

Positioning itself as a defender of regional identity, the party accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of being “Bangla-birodhi” (anti-Bengali) and of attempting to impose homogenised cultural norms on a plural society. “Bengal will not take lessons on identity from those who neither understand nor respect it,” the statement said.

So far, there has been no official response from the Railway Ministry or the BJP addressing the specific allegation regarding the Vande Bharat menu. The Vande Bharat Express services typically operate with centrally curated catering contracts, though menus can vary by route and operator.

The controversy adds to the ongoing political sparring between the TMC and the BJP ahead of upcoming electoral battles, with cultural identity, food habits, and federal autonomy increasingly becoming flashpoints.

Whether the issue leads to any policy clarification or changes in onboard catering remains to be seen, but it has already reignited a larger debate on food, politics, and cultural pluralism in India.