Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s offer to “cook food” for Prime Minister Narendra Modi elicited mixed responses from different political parties, with the BJP terming it a “political agenda” and the CPI(M) dubbing it as an “understanding” between the TMC and the saffron party.

Taking a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his recent allegation that RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav last month had fish during a period when some Hindus abstain from having non-vegetarian food, Banerjee on Monday said she was ready to “cook something for him (Modi)” if he wanted though she was not sure whether he would eat what she cooked.

Banerjee, at an election rally here, had made the remarks while taking a dig at the BJP for allegedly interfering with the food habits of the people and had said she would be happy to cook food for Modi but is not sure “whether the PM will be ready to savour my cooked meal.”

“I have been cooking since my childhood days. People have praised my cooking. But will Modi ji accept my food? Will he trust me? I will cook whatever he loves,” she had said.

The TMC supremo had said, “I love both vegetarian foods like Dhokla and non-veg foods like macher jhol (fish curry). Different communities, and different sects among Hindus have their own unique rituals and eating habits. Who is BJP to impose a diktat on an individual’s dietary habits? It shows the BJP leadership has little idea and concern about the diversity and inclusivity of India and its people.”

Banerjee’s offer to cook for the prime minister, who is a vegetarian, drew sharp reactions from the saffron camp.

“Mamata Banerjee wants to feed Modi ji with fish and rice cooked by her. Good proposal. But before that, why doesn’t she first offer pork chop to her lieutenant Firhad Hakim? It will serve three purposes, secularism will be asserted, it will show charity begins at home and the fritters will also be praised,” former BJP state president and ex-Tripura Governor Tathagata Roy posted on X.

BJP leader Sankudeb Panda claimed Banerjee had deliberately invited Modi knowing well that he is a strict vegetarian.

“This is nothing but her ploy to trap the PM. She knows on the one hand the PM will never eat fish or any non-veg item. If she believes everyone should be allowed to eat what he/she loves to eat, then why is she twisting Modiji’s comments about one’s dietary habits? She is insulting devout Sanatani Hindus” he added.

Reacting to Banerjee’s comments, CPI(M) leader Bikash Bhattacharya said, “Being Dada-Bon (brother and sister), Mamata didi can certainly offer to cook meals for the prime minister, do not know if it is to placate him.”

Bhattacharya was referring to the jibe – “Didibhai-Modibhai” that the Left and the Bengal Congress unit use to refer to the alleged tacit understanding between the BJP and the TMC.

He said such comments in the backdrop of her public posturing against “Modi’s politics and divisive speeches show an apparent contradiction” in what she publicly says and preaches in private.

“Both Mamata Banerjee and Narendra Modi are responsible for bringing the country to such a state. Both are mixing politics with religion,” he added.

The TMC, however, supported the party supremo’s remark and said she spoke about the unique religious, and cultural diversity of India and the theme of “unity in diversity”.

“She spoke rightly and her comment regarding Modi stems from the fact that as Modi has the right to eat what he likes, every other Indian too has the same right,” TMC MP Dola Sen told PTI.

She also criticised the BJP for trying to impose the “Sangh Parivar’s narrative” about their agenda to impose a diktat on diets and other customs on people of this country.

Patna: RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Tuesday claimed that he was getting “full support” from “uncle” Nitish Kumar, the JD(U) president who is a BJP ally, in his fight against the saffron party.

Yadav made the remark, in an obvious bid to drive a wedge between the newly realigned NDA partners, at a rally in Bihar’s Madhubani district.

The RJD leader, who lost his job as Bihar Deputy CM as a result of Kumar’s abrupt exit from INDIA bloc, said “chacha (uncle) may have been hijacked by the BJP. But he taught me the importance of driving out of power those whose ascent came in 2014. Deep down, he retains the sentiment”.

“I know his blessings are with me because I am carrying forward his fight. Just take note, he has taken ill on the very day Prime Minister Narendra Modi was to file his nomination papers. It is clear I am getting his full support”, remarked Yadav.

Interestingly, the comments of the young, but deft, politician came on a day the Chief Minister’s office came out with an unusually short statement declaring that Kumar’s “all programmes for the day have been cancelled because of illness”.

Sources close to the leader claimed the septuagenarian had flu-like symptoms and he has also been pensive since Monday night when he received the news of the death of his close friend Sushil Kumar Modi, a senior BJP leader who had served as his deputy for more than a decade.

However, the absence of Bihar’s longest-serving Chief Minister in Varanasi, where the PM was accompanied by most allies, including coalition partners from the state like Pashupati Kumar Paras, Chirag Paswan, Upendra Kushwaha and Jitan Ram Manjhi, has triggered speculations in a section of the media here.

Many news outlets claim that Kumar felt slighted over the treatment he got at Modi’s roadshow in Patna on Sunday when the JD(U) president was made to stand quietly beside the PM as he waved at the crowds and obliged a couple of channels with interviews.

Kumar was also conspicuous by his absence at the Vidhan Sabha premises where mortal remains of Sushil Kumar Modi were brought, though senior JD(U) leaders like Vijay Kumar Chaudhary and Devesh Chandra Thakur were present to pay tributes to the late leader who passed away at a Delhi hospital, battling cancer.

Bengaluru : Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Tuesday said he will campaign for Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who is contesting the Lok Sabha polls from Uttar Pradesh’s Raebareli.

The state Congress president also expressed confidence about the INDI Alliance coming to power in the country after the polls.

“I’m going to Raebareli for (Lok Sabha) election campaigning in Uttar Pradesh. I won’t be here (Bengaluru) for two days, I’m leaving today. I have requested that no one should come (near my residence) to celebrate my birthday (May 15) and there should not be any celebrations,” Shivakumar said.

“There is a good atmosphere everywhere and the INDIA bloc will win, and I’m confident that we will form the government,” he told reporters here.

The Raebareli seat had earlier been held by Rahul’s mother Sonia Gandhi, his grandmother Indira Gandhi and his grandfather Feroze Gandhi.

The constituency will go to polls on May 20 in the fifth of the seven-phase general election. Rahul Gandhi also contested the ongoing Lok Sabha polls from Wayanad segment in Kerala, which went to polls on April 26.

Shivakumar has already urged his supporters, party workers and fans not to celebrate his birthday on May 15 in view of the severe drought in the state, and also not to come to his residence or office as he will be traveling for election campaigning.

Reacting to Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s reported statements regarding efforts to replicate the ‘Maharashtra model’ to topple the Congress government in Karnataka, he said, “I feel that his (Shinde) own government will be in trouble as things may reverse there.”

New Delhi: Air India Express has cancelled more than 80 flights and scores of flights have been delayed as a section of cabin crew members have reported sick to protest against the alleged mismanagement at the Tata Group-owned airline, sources said on Wednesday.

The airline, which is in the process of merging AIX Connect (formerly AirAsia India) with itself, is to operate 360 daily flights during the summer schedule that started in the last week of March.

An Air India Express spokesperson said the airline is engaging with the cabin crew members to understand the reasons for reporting sick and also apologised for the flight disruptions.

Discontent has been brewing among a section of the cabin crew at the low-cost carrier for some time now, especially after the start of the merger process.

The sources on Wednesday told PTI that more than 200 cabin crew are believed to have reported sick to protest against the alleged mismanagement at the airline.

The cabin crew shortage has resulted in the cancellation of at least more than 80 flights since Tuesday night and scores of flights were delayed.

Flight disruptions are happening at various airports, including Kochi, Calicut and Bangalore, they added.

The sources also said there was chaos at some airports due to the sudden cancellation of flights, including to overseas destinations.

“A section of our cabin crew has reported sick at the last minute, starting last night, resulting in flight delays and cancellations.

“While we are engaging with the crew to understand the reasons behind these occurrences, our teams are actively addressing this issue to minimise any inconvenience caused to our guests as a result,” the Air India Express spokesperson said in a statement.

Apologising to the customers for the “unexpected disruption”, the spokesperson said those impacted by the cancellations will be offered a full refund or complimentary rescheduling to another date. Late last month, a union representing a section of the Air India Express cabin crew alleged that the airline is being mismanaged and there is a lack of equality in the treatment of the staff.

Air India Express Employees Union (AIXEU), a registered union, which claims to represent around 300 cabin crew members, mostly seniors, had also alleged that mismanagement of the affairs has affected the morale of the employees.

The development at Air India Express comes a month after Tata Group full-service carrier Vistara witnessed pilot woes, forcing it to temporarily cut down capacity by 10 per cent or 25-30 flights daily.

As part of consolidating its airline business, Tata Group is merging Air India Express and AIX Connect, as well as Vistara with Air India.

On Wednesday, many passengers took to social media complaining about the sudden cancellation of flights by Air India Express.

“Guests flying with us today are requested to check if their flight is affected, before heading to the airport,” the airline spokesperson said.

Dr. Palthadi Ramakrishna Achar

Puttur: Dr. Palthadi Ramakrishna Achar, a prominent figure in folk studies and former president of Karnataka Tulu Sahitya Akademi, breathed his last on Tuesday night. The 79-year-old scholar passed away at his daughter’s residence in Peruvaje, Sulya taluk, after his health deteriorated on Tuesday evening. Despite efforts to transport him to the city hospital, he succumbed en route.

Survived by his wife, an Assistant Professor at Moodbidri Alvas College, and his children – son Harshvardhan, daughters Kira PR and Bellare Dr. Supriya P.R., along with daughter-in-law, in-laws, and relatives, Dr. Palthadi leaves behind a legacy cherished by many.

The mortal remains of Dr. Palthadi are currently kept at Puttur City Hospital, with the funeral scheduled to take place on May 8, according to family sources.

Betul: A bus transporting polling officials and Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) caught fire in Betul district, Madhya Pradesh, yesterday after the third phase of voting. The event occurred near Gola village, resulting in damage to EVMs from several polling stations. Fortunately, no injuries were reported among the polling staff or the bus driver.

According to Betul Collector Narendra Suryavanshi, the fire was ignited by a spark within the bus. The damaged EVMs belonged to four polling stations, specifically booth numbers 275, 276, 277, 278, 279, and 280. Among the six polling parties and an equal number of EVMs onboard, four were affected while two remained unharmed. The damage primarily affected either the control unit or the ballot unit of the EVMs.

The collector assured that he would forward a detailed report to the Election Commission for assessment. The Election Commission will subsequently determine whether re-polling is necessary in the affected booths.

This incident occurred during the third phase of Lok Sabha elections in Madhya Pradesh, wherein a substantial voter turnout was recorded. Notably, Betul witnessed a turnout of 72.65%, contributing to the provisional voter turnout of 66.05% across nine Lok Sabha seats in the state.

Among the candidates in the fray were prominent figures such as Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, and former chief ministers Shivraj Singh Chouhan of BJP and Digvijaya Singh of Congress. The polling encompassed nine seats, including Morena, Bhind (SC-reserved), Gwalior, Guna, Sagar, Vidisha, Bhopal, Rajgarh, and Betul (ST-reserved).

Kochi/Kannur: Protests by irate passengers were witnessed at all airports in Kerala on Wednesday against the last minute cancellation of their Air India Express flights.

Passengers, mostly travelling to the Gulf nations, claimed that they were informed about the flight cancellations after they completed their security check and were waiting to board the flight.

While Air India Express has offered a full refund or complimentary rescheduling to another date, passengers are not happy with that.

Many of them claimed that they could lose their jobs if they do not reach their place of work today, while some others’ work visas are about to expire.

One woman, who was to travel from Kannur to Sharjah with twin babies and her husband, said she has to rejoin work on May 9, but Air India Express was offering her a flight from Kochi only on May 10.

“What would be the point in me travelling on May 10? If I do not reach there before May 9, my boss will say not to come and I will lose my job,” she told media.

Similar concerns were aired by many others who have to rejoin their places of work in the Gulf nations today or tomorrow and failure to do so could result in them losing their jobs.

The woman also said that she had been waiting at the airport since Tuesday night, when her flight was scheduled to leave for Sharjah, but no accommodation or other facilities were provided to them by the airline.

Another woman, who had booked tickets on Air India Express to meet her husband who is hospitalised in Muscat, said that she was told about the cancellation only when she reached the Kannur airport in the morning.

One man who had to travel urgently to Sharjah on Tuesday night from Kannur, did not wait to cancel the ticket and instead quickly bought a ticket on Indigo for Rs 37,000.

“There is a fight going on at the ticket counter. So, I quickly bought a ticket on Indigo for Rs 37,000,” he said.

Similar scenes of irate passengers, some travelling with small children, were seen at Kochi, Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram airports in the state.

Air India Express has cancelled “scores of flights” due to a shortage of cabin crew members as a section of them are reporting sick to protest against alleged mismanagement at the Tata Group-owned airline, according to sources.

Discontent has been brewing among a section of the cabin crew at the low-cost carrier for some time now, especially after the start of the process of merger of AIX Connect, formerly AirAsia India, with itself.

The sources on Wednesday said several cabin crew members started reporting sick since Monday evening and as there are not enough cabin crew members, “scores of flights” have been cancelled at various airports, including Kochi, Calicut and Kannur.

Later the airline, in a statement, said, “A section of our cabin crew has reported sick at the last minute, starting last night, resulting in flight delays and cancellations.

“While we are engaging with the crew to understand the reasons behind these occurrences, our teams are actively addressing this issue to minimise any inconvenience caused to our guests as a result.”

The airline, in its statement, sincerely apologised to passengers for this unexpected disruption and emphasised that this situation does not reflect the standard of service it strives to provide.

Chamarajanagar: In a tragic incident in Chamarajanagar, a collision between a private bus and a motorcycle resulted in a death near Singanallur in Hanur taluk.

The victim, identified as Sridar (44) from Singanallur village, was returning to Hanur after selling bananas in the town on Wednesday morning when the accident occurred.

The collision claimed Sridar’s life on the spot. Police arrived at the scene, initiating an investigation and registering a case regarding the unfortunate incident.