Assam Minister’s Cauliflower Tweet Sparks Controversy, Revives Memories of Bhagalpur Riots

Guwahati/Bihar: A seemingly innocuous tweet by Assam Health Minister Ashok Singhal about cauliflower farming in Bihar has ignited a political storm, particularly in Assam. While Bihar leaders remained largely silent, Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi and TMC spokesperson Saket Gokhale criticized the tweet, linking it to the infamous Bhagalpur riots of 1989.

The controversy stems from a grim historical connection: during the Bhagalpur riots, hundreds of Muslims were killed, and, according to reports, some of the mass graves were later covered with cauliflower crops. On 24 October 1989, tensions escalated in Bhagalpur when a procession marking the Ram Janmabhoomi movement clashed with local Muslim residents. The violence spread rapidly, leaving around 900–1,000 people dead and affecting nearly 200 villages.

Cauliflower Fields and the Riots
Investigations revealed that some bodies were allegedly buried and then cauliflower was planted over them, making “cauliflower farming” a sensitive historical reference. The two-month-long riots led to widespread criticism of the Bihar and central governments, and the local administration was held accountable for failing to prevent the massacre.

Political Fallout
Congress and opposition leaders condemned Singhal’s tweet as an attempt to spread communal hate following the Bihar Assembly elections. Gaurav Gogoi stated that Assam, the land of Shankardev, would not tolerate such messages. Former Union Minister Shashi Tharoor also criticized the tweet, highlighting the insensitivity of reviving a painful chapter of history.

Though decades have passed, the mention of cauliflower in this context continues to evoke the horrors of the Bhagalpur riots, making Singhal’s social media post highly controversial.