Bihar Elections Take a Religious Turn as BJP Accuses Opposition of Anti-Hindu Bias
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The election campaign in Bihar intensified Monday, November 3, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Prime Minister Narendra Modi framing the opposition Mahagathbandhan – comprised of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Congress, and other parties – as opposed to Hinduism. The shift in focus comes as the campaign enters a critical phase, with both sides attempting to consolidate their support bases.
Escalating Religious Rhetoric
The BJPS strategy centers on highlighting perceived disrespect towards Hindu traditions and festivals. Lalu Prasad Yadav, despite a diminished public role due to legal issues, has become a focal point of this attack, with the BJP accusing him and his allies of being “desh-drohi” (traitors). This rhetoric aims to tap into religious sentiments and portray the Mahagathbandhan as out of touch with the cultural values of Bihar.
Halloween Celebration Sparks Controversy
The BJP initially reacted to a video shared by Lalu Yadav’s daughter, Rohini Acharya, showing the veteran leader celebrating Halloween with his grandchildren. The visuals depicted the children in costumes, including one dressed as the Grim Reaper, prompting immediate criticism from the BJP.
The party also resurfaced a February remark by Yadav dismissing the grandeur of the Kumbh Mela as “meaningless” (“faltu“). A post on X (formerly twitter) by the BJP’s farmers’ wing stated, “Don’t forget, people of Bihar, this is the same Lalu Yadav who called the grand festival of faith and spirituality Kumbh useless, and is now celebrating the foreign festival Halloween.”
Chhath Festival and Alleged Insults
The attacks intensified with Shah directly linking the RJD-Congress alliance to an alleged insult against the Chhath festival.Speaking in Shivhar, Shah claimed that Rahul Gandhi had “insulted Chhathi Maiya (mother deity)” by criticizing Modi’s actions regarding the Yamuna River during Chhath Puja. Gandhi had alleged that Modi orchestrated the creation of a clean pond for personal “drama” while the Yamuna remained polluted.
“This time, along with Modi, you have insulted Chhathi Maiya,” Shah asserted, seeking to galvanize support among devotees of the festival.
Modi’s Broadside and National Security Concerns
Prime Minister Modi also weighed in, accusing the Mahagathbandhan of being dismissive towards Chhath Puja and opposing the construction of the Ram temple at Ayodhya. Speaking in an area with a meaningful Muslim population, Modi carefully avoided direct communal accusations but stated that the INDIA bloc parties were “compromising national security” and “jumped in to protect infiltrators” whenever the BJP attempted to deport them, according to the Press Trust of India (PTI).
Congress Response: The ‘Apamaan Mantralaya’
In response to the BJP’s focus on perceived insults directed at Modi, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra offered a sharp retort. Addressing rallies in Saharsa and Lakhisarai districts, she mocked the Prime Minister, suggesting he establish a “Apamaan Mantralaya” (Ministry of Insults).
“Instead of talking about development, the PM keeps accusing every opposition leader of insulting the country,” Gandhi remarked. “he should form a new ministry, ‘Apamaan Mantralaya’, as that’s what his government seems most focused on.” She further stated that Modi frequently enough deflects from addressing critical issues like unemployment, corruption, and poverty by focusing on alleged insults. Gandhi also criticized Modi for appearing to lament being “insulted” rather than answering questions about the alleged misrule of the NDA government over the past two decades.
(with ANI and PTI inputs)
