A fresh political controversy erupted in Bihar’s Saharsa district after a temple was allegedly washed soon after Congress leader Kanhaiya Kumar’s visit. The incident took place at the Goddess Durga temple in Bangaon village, where Kumar had stopped as part of his ongoing Palayan Roko, Naukri Do (Stop Migration, Provide Jobs) yatra. He also addressed people from the temple premises.
A viral video purportedly shows individuals cleaning the temple premises soon after Kumar departed. While the Congress has questioned whether opposition party supporters are now considered “untouchables,” the BJP has countered that the act symbolizes a rejection of Kumar’s political ideology.
Congress spokesperson Gyan Ranjan Gupta strongly condemned the incident, stating, “Does this mean that only RSS and BJP supporters are deemed pure while others are untouchable? This is an insult to the descendants of Lord Parshuram. Are we witnessing a new wave of ultra-Sanskritisation?”
On the other hand, BJP spokesperson Asit Nath Tiwari responded cautiously, saying, “Before jumping to conclusions, we must verify who exactly performed this act. If the temple was indeed washed after his visit, it reflects how people feel about Kanhaiya Kumar’s politics.”
A local resident, an elderly villager, mentioned that the temple has always been open to people of all backgrounds and castes. He suspected that “some miscreants” could be behind the incident.
Kumar, a member of the upper-caste Bhumihar community, has refrained from commenting on the matter. His yatra, which began on March 16 from West Champaran, will conclude on March 31 in Kishanganj.
