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Bihar temple washed after Kanhaiya Kumar's visit? Congress questions BJP’s 'untouchable politics'
The scene allegedly unfolded at the Goddess Durga temple in the Bangaon village in Bihar.
A viral video on social media claimed that a temple in Bihar's Saharasa was allegedly washed and cleaned using ganga jal after Congress leader Kanhaiya Kumar addressed a gathering there.
The incident, with videos widely shared on social media, triggered an array of reactions following the alleged temple "washing" incident.
The scene allegedly unfolded at the Goddess Durga temple in Bangaon village, where Kanhaiya Kumar, currently on his "Palayan Roko, Naukri Do" (Stop Migration, Provide Jobs) yatra, gave a speech.
However, things took a dramatic turn when some individuals allegedly started washing the temple grounds shortly after Kumar’s visit. The footage quickly caught fire on social media.
The video of the incident was shared by the news agency IANS, and HT couldn't verify the visuals independently.
Meanwhile, the controversy has split political lines, with the Congress accusing rivals of promoting untouchability and the BJP claiming it’s a rejection of Kumar’s politics.
While Kanhaiya Kumar decided to stay silent on the controversy, Congress spokesperson Gyan Ranjan Gupta fired off a scathing criticism against the BJP.
“We want to know if only RSS and BJP supporters are pious people and the rest are untouchable. The act has disrespected the descendants of Lord Parshuram. Have we entered a new phase of ultra-Sanskritisation in which non-BJP parties and supporters will be treated as untouchables?” Gupta asked while speaking to the Indian Express.
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Notably, Kanhaiya Kumar, the former JNUSU president, belongs to the upper-caste Bhumihar community.
BJP spokesperson Asit Nath Tiwari, on the other hand, suggested that the veracity of the video as well as the identities of those who washed the temple, should be verified before jumping to conclusions.
But then he added a pointed remark: “If the temple is washed after Kanhaiya Kumar’s visit, it shows a clear rejection of his political ideology.”
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Locals, however, on being asked by The Indian Express, said that the temple welcomed people from all caste backgrounds, adding that the washing of the temple could be the work of miscreants.
Congress' 'palayan roko, naukri do pada-yatra'
The Congress in Bihar on Sunday launched a state-wide 'pada-yatra' themed 'palayan roko naukri do', highlighting the endemic unemployment in the province.
Former JNU students' union president Kanhaiya Kumar visited the remote West Champaran district where the pada-yatra, which would be undertaken by volunteers of the party's youth and students' wings, began.
Talking to reporters on the occasion, Kanhaiya Kumar, who is also national in charge of NSUI, the students wing, launched a veiled attack on the ruling BJP-led NDA in Bihar.
"This government is unable to give jobs. Every competitive exam is marred by question paper leaks or ends in litigation in court because of other irregularities. Those who got employed recently, like government teachers, are being deprived of pension benefits that their seniors enjoy," said the Begusarai-born leader.
