North Bengal development minister Udayan Guha has obliquely referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a “sindoor (vermillion) seller” ahead of the latter’s first visit to Bengal after Operation Sindoor.

On Tuesday evening, the Dinhata TMC MLA — known for his scathing verbal attacks against political opponents — criticised Modi without naming him at Burirpat, a locality at the entry point of his home turf Dinhata in Cooch Behar.

“Earlier, someone used to sell tea. These days, they are selling sindoor. The hot tea-seller is claiming these days that hot vermillion is flowing through his veins, and is coming to Alipurduar to sell the vermilion,” Guha said at the inauguration of a decorated gate and a selfie zone in Dinhata.

On May 22, Modi, while speaking at the first public meeting after the success of Operation Sindoor, at Palana in Bikaner of Rajasthan, had said sindoor and not blood flowed through his veins.

On Thursday, Modi is scheduled to be in Alipurduar to attend an official event and address a public meeting.

“The point I want to make is that one should not play the religious card to divide people. One should refrain from any act that vitiates people’s minds,” Guha said.

He referred to the welcome gate at Dinhata, which had an idol of goddess Durga, and the selfie zone with a model of the Taj Mahal.

“The idea is to create a healthy society and abort attempts to divide people,” Guha added.

Guha's comment sparked outrage among BJP leaders.

“I am not surprised at Udayan Guha’s remarks. He has referred to sale, a practice in which his party leaders are experts. The chief minister has sold the entire state, and it is but natural that a state minister will pass such reprehensible comments,” said Shankar Ghosh, the Siliguri MLA and the BJP's chief whip in the Assembly.

Tushar Kanti Ghosh, the BJP’s media in-charge in Bengal, on his official X handle said Guha made disparaging remarks against the Prime Minister. He alleged that Guha “demeaned the bravery of the Indian army”. “He referred to “Operation Sindoor,” a mission against Pakistani terrorists, as merely a “Sindoor business,” and labeled it as a “religiously divisive act”. Despite such overtly anti-national statements, Mamata Banerjee will not take any action against this goon,” the BJP leader posted.