New Delhi: A political storm has erupted in Delhi after a viral video surfaced showing a group of men allegedly intimidating fish and meat vendors near a temple in the Bengali-majority neighbourhood of Chittaranjan Park (CR Park). Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra has launched a fierce attack on the BJP-led Union Territory government and the Delhi Police, accusing them of turning a blind eye to threats aimed at legal shopkeepers.
Taking to social media platform X, Moitra alleged that “BJP goons” were responsible for the intimidation. “Terrorising Hindu fishmongers into shutting legal shops next to a temple they built – BJP goons caught on video but not yet arrested. Hello Delhi Police – Or are we all supposed to eat dhoklas and chant Jai Shri Ram?” she wrote.
In a video statement, the Krishnanagar MP didn’t hold back, calling the incident an open assault on the cultural identity of Bengalis. “You can see how in broad daylight, with complete impunity and audacity, the BJP’s goons are threatening shopkeepers and telling them that you cannot have a shop here,” she said. Emphasizing that the temple in question was built by the local market community, Moitra stated, “We are proudly fish-eating Hindus. Is the BJP going to decide what we put on our plates now?”
Please watch saffron brigade BJP goons threaten fish-eating Bengalis of Chittaranjan Park, Delhi. Never in 60 years has this happened, residents say. pic.twitter.com/jt5NCQHo9i
— Mahua Moitra (@MahuaMoitra) April 8, 2025
Moitra further stirred the debate by questioning the communal response of the authorities: “If the perpetrators had been Muslim, would Delhi Police still be silent?” she asked. Her remarks have resonated across social media, especially among the Bengali community, which sees the move as an attempt to erase their cultural identity under the guise of religious sentiment.
The TMC MP has posted multiple videos and messages online, including one stating: “Please watch as saffron brigade BJP goons threaten fish-eating Bengalis of Chittaranjan Park, Delhi. Never in 60 years has this happened, residents say.” She also alleged that WhatsApp messages from residents in CR Park describe the situation as “terrible” and that the fish and meat vendors are being forced to shut down.
In response, Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva issued a statement defending the traders and condemning the threats. “The fish market traders in CR Park have always respected the temples. These shops are legally allocated, well-maintained, and are part of the community fabric,” he said. Sachdeva further added, “The video shared by Mahua Moitra seems to have been created by politically self-interested people to disturb the harmony of the area.”
Despite the public outrage and political back-and-forth, Delhi Police said they have not received any official complaint yet, though they are looking into the matter.
