Odisha vs West Bengal over Rasgulla's origin

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Saturday raked up a fight over Rasgulla belonging originally to the state by deciding to set up three committees to counter neighbouring West Bengal's claim over the sweet.

The state government will set up three committees to look into matters relating to Rasgulla, Science and Technology and Higher Education Minister Pradeep Panigrahi said.

The committees would have members from Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) and Culture departments.

The first committee would look into facts and evidence regarding the origin of Rasgulla in Odisha, the second would study the ground, based on which West Bengal is making its claim. The third would collect necessary documents to support and validate Odisha's claim, Panigrahi said.

The minister said the committees would submit their reports within a week.

The pearly white, mouthwatering Rasgulla finds itself amid a controversy over its origin. While West Bengal believes it was invented in then Calcutta by confectioner Nabin Chandra Das, Odisha says it was invented in the holy city of Puri way back in the 13th century.