{
  "id": 3018939,
  "title": "Why a ‘fish feast’ at Ayodhya event has set off political fireworks",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/why-a-fish-feast-at-ayodhya-event-has-set-off-political-fireworks",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-24T12:31:49.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Indian Express",
    "slug": "the-indian-express",
    "url": "https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/lucknow/why-fish-feast-ayodhya-political-fireworks-congress-bjp-10847499/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A \"fish bhoj (feast)\" organised in Ayodhya has sparked a political controversy. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath accused Congress and Samajwadi Party leaders of disrespecting Ayodhya and Lord Ram, while Congress denied its leaders attended the feast and challenged him to provide evidence. The issue arose after a video of the feast following an event organized by Ram Nishad, who joined Congress last month after leaving BJP, went viral on social media. Addressing a meeting in Rae Bareli, Adityanath alleged that \"devotees of Babri\" had enjoyed a fish feast at one of their offices. Congress leaders countered, stating the event was held in Gosaiganj, about 30-40 km from Ayodhya, and political leaders did not participate in the feast. Congress state president Ajay Rai challenged Adityanath to provide proof or apologize, accusing the BJP of diverting attention from alleged donation theft in Ayodhya. Ram Nishad, who organized the event, clarified that the viral video showed a separate feast by Nishad and fishing community members, explaining that fish is integral to their culture. Nishad stated that Congress leaders, including Rai and Rajendra Pal Gautam, were invited to the political program for his joining ceremony and received vegetarian food before the community feast began. Adityanath also criticized Rahul Gandhi's remarks on the Manusmriti, accusing his party of insulting Ram's legacy and denying his existence.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}