'Election Sanatani' Jibe Fuels BJP-RJD Clash Over Navratri Meal
In a fresh political row, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has criticized Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav for consuming fish during the ongoing Navratri festival. The controversy erupted after Yadav posted a video of himself and Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) chief Mukesh Sahni having a non-vegetarian meal inside a helicopter during the election campaign.
The BJP, taking a dig at Yadav, branded him an "election sanatani" (election Hindu), accusing him of appeasement politics and disrespecting Hindu traditions for electoral gains.
Union Minister Giriraj Singh led the charge against Yadav, stating, "Tejashwi Yadav is an 'election sanatani'. They do politics of appeasement by wearing the mask of Sanatan. He is a fan of appeasement, a vote dealer."
Bihar's Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sinha also criticized Yadav's actions, saying, "He (Tejashwi Yadav) wants to become a sanatani but could not learn sanatani values. Eats mutton in Sawan and fish in Navratri just for votes. These people insult religion."
Amid the backlash, Tejashwi Yadav clarified that the video was recorded on April 8, a day before the commencement of Navratri. He accused the BJP of playing petty politics and diverting attention from pressing issues like unemployment, migration, and poverty.
"I was taking the IQ test of BJP people. The dates are mentioned in the video, and it was shot on April 8. These people don't know how to read or write. The BJP will never say anything on issues like unemployment, migration and poverty and will jump on non-issues," Yadav said.
The video in question shows Yadav and Sahni, the leader of the Mallah (fisherman) community in Bihar, sharing a meal of roti and fish inside a helicopter during the election campaign. Yadav also mentioned carrying watermelon juice and sattu to combat the sweltering heat.
The controversy has reignited the debate over the role of religion in politics and the accusations of appeasement strategies employed by political parties.
As the election campaigns intensify, the BJP and opposition parties continue to exchange barbs, with each side accusing the other of divisive tactics and neglecting the real concerns of the electorate.
