LUCKNOW, Aug. 25 -- A reported fish feast at a Congress gathering in Ayodhya has led to a war of words as the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, its allies and the Opposition traded barbs on the issue. The controversy intensified after videos allegedly showing fish being prepared at an event organised by the Nishad community supporters of the Congress on Sunday in Kumarganj, about 50 km from Ayodhya Dham, circulated on social media. As the purported event was held during Sawan, considered a sacred month by many Hindus, the issue gave the BJP the opportunity to accuse the Congress of double standards and disrespecting religious sentiments. The Congress hit back by terming the controversy as an attempt to politicise food and the traditional practices of riverine communities. Terming it as "double standards" of the Congress, chief minister Yogi Adityanath alleged the party's state president visited Hanumangarhi temple in Ayodhya and subsequently attended a fish feast. "After chanting Ram-Ram in a temple and bowing before Bajrang Bali, such conduct was shameful. Even a chameleon would be embarrassed by such behaviour," the chief minister said in Rae Bareli. State Congress president Ajay Rai, who offered prayers at the Hanumangarhi temple in Ayodhya before attending the Nishad community gathering, denied eating fish at the event. He challenged his critics to provide evidence that he had consumed it. "I visited the religious places associated with Lord Ram and offered prayers at Hanumangarhi temple and the Ram temple. After that, I attended an event organised by the Nishad community. Fishing, selling fish and eating fish are part of their (Nishad community's) traditional livelihood. They are the sons of the river. During Congress rule, the Nishad community was respected, and ponds were allotted to them on lease. The present government has changed this system, and large companies from Gujarat are now obtaining leases for rivers and sand contracts. The Nishad community honoured us and blessed us with love and affection," Rai said on Monday. Deputy chief minister Brajesh Pathak said, "It is deeply saddening. Ayodhya Dham is the sacred abode of Lord Ram, and hosting such a feast there, especially during the holy month of Shravan, reflects the culture of the Congress party." Uttar Pradesh fisheries minister and Nishad Party chief Sanjay Nishad said, "The Congress needs to make its stance clear: whether it wants to go to the Hanumangarhi temple or eat fish. It is the Nishad community's culture and they will eat. The Congress is a party that snatches away the rights of the Nishad community. Without land, the community depends on the rivers. The Congress simply turns non-issues into issues, and issues into non-issues." Uttar Pradesh minister and BJP ally Om Prakash Rajbhar, who heads the Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party, said, "If they truly held certain beliefs, they wouldn't be consuming fish during the holy month of Sawan at a public place. What can one even say about the Congress regarding this? On the one hand, they pose as devotees of Lord Ram and recite the Hanuman Chalisa, while on the other, they indulge in consuming fish. This is the culture of the Congress." Congress state incharge Rajendra Pal Gautam, who was also present at the event in Ayodhya district, demanded proof of fish-eating from the BJP. "The BJP should show us at least one picture of mine or Ajay Rai eating fish. But they won't find it. Communities living along the rivers have a particular food habit and it is their traditional food, which no one can object to." Showing a picture at a media briefing, Gautam said, "I am showing BJP national president Nitin Nabin's picture having a feast during Sawan. The BJP needs to reply to this fist." Ram Nihaal Nishad, a local leader of the backward Nishad community who organised the event, said, "On August 11, Sanjay Nishad-a cabinet minister in the UP government-had described fish as vegetarian. He stated that if fish is prepared without garlic and onion, it is vegetarian."...