Patna: A post from the Kerala unit of the Congress on X comparing Bihar with ‘bidis’ has sparked controversy, drawing sharp criticism from NDA leaders in the state. The party later deleted the post after the backlash.
Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary condemned the remark, saying: “They have first insulted the mother of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and now they are insulting the entire Bihar. This is the real character of Congress, which has been exposed before the nation.”
JD(U) spokesperson and MLC Neeraj Kumar accused the INDIA bloc of repeatedly belittling Bihar. “Sometimes bidi, sometimes taunts on Biharis. Bihar is intelligent, belongs to Buddha, Sita, and Sufi saints. Tejashwi Yadav must answer — is Bihar a synonym of bidi? The public will reply through EVMs,” he said.
Union Textile Minister Giriraj Singh also attacked Congress leadership, remarking: “The brainless Rahul’s malicious Congress always misbehaves with Bihar… their destruction is certain.”
The controversy arose from a now-deleted post on @INCKerala that read: “Bidis and Bihar start from B. Cannot be considered a sin anymore.”
The row comes close on the heels of derogatory remarks allegedly made against Prime Minister Modi’s late mother during the Voter Adhikar Yatra in Darbhanga. Modi had described the remarks as an insult to both his mother and the nation. The BJP called for a Bihar Bandh on Thursday, with NDA leaders staging protests.
With Assembly elections approaching, NDA leaders have sought to frame the remarks as an affront to Bihari pride, indicating that the issue is likely to figure prominently in their campaign against the RJD-Congress alliance.