(Image source from: })

Mamata Banerjee, Chief Minister of West Bengal, said that her government will not interfere in the food choices of people and the choice of food depends on one’s own prerogative. The statement comes in the wake of controversy over a recent meat ban in Mumbai. However, the CM has not named the government led by BJP in Maharashtra.

The CM said at the event of minority development department at Netaji Indoor Stadium that, "Who will eat what is his or her prerogative. We are never going to interfere in people's choice of food.”

"I will not allow any divisiveness in my state, I believe in equal rights for all," she added during the program attended by thousands of students and people belonging to minority communities.

Also read: Feasibility Of Meat Ban In Metropolitan City Questioned By Bombay HC

Ban on meat sale in Mumbai

An outrage rose in Mumbai Bombay high court on 17 September over the meat sale ban on the eve of Jain festival of Paryushan. Bombay high court stayed the ban which was refused to quash by the Supreme Court later on.

Awards to meritorious students

Banerjee took the occasion to distribute awards to meritorious students belonging to minority communities. Students were from school children to those who cleared civil service examinations of the state.

"We have spent Rs 2,400 crore for minority development while the previous (Left Front) government in the state had done little for them," Banerjee said.

"Alia University has been set up at a cost of Rs 236 crore and its Park Circus campus has come up at an expenditure of Rs 62 crore," the chief minister said.

-Sumana