A BJP MLA in Bihar has sparked a controversy over his statements on the worship of Hindu deities. Pirpainti legislator Lalan Paswan was speaking to reporters on why he did not organise a “mrityu bhoj” (13th-day feast) for his recently deceased mother. A viral video, shot five days ago, shows a tonsured Paswan saying: “It is held that Saraswati is the goddess of learning. Muslims do not worship her, but are they not wise? Don't they become IAS and IPS officers? It is held that Lakshmi is the goddess of wealth. Muslims do not worship her, but are they not millionaires and billionaires? Lord Bajrangbali is the god of strength. Muslims and Christians do not worship him… is not America a superpower? It is all about belief.” He said: “It is all about your faith. There is a soul and god so long as you believe in it. Once you start reasoning and your thoughts are scientific, you start asking questions rationally.” About the ritual of the feast, Paswan called it a “kuriti” (wrong practice). The MLA Wednesday stood by his statement: “One should understand the context in which I said what I said. I am not against religion but I only talked about scientific thought processes and being rational.” BJP National General Secretary of OBC Morcha, Nikhil Anand, told The Indian Express: “Paswan wanted to express his viewpoint on the 13th-day ritual of mass feast after the demise of his mother. Among the Hindus, even Arya Samaj and many other beliefs do not organise these 13th day rituals. We understand his emotion as an MLA while replying to the query on this. In order to make others understand his decision, he may have said something else.” BJP sources claimed Paswan, a first-time MLA, could be laying the ground to quit the BJP as the social combination might well be in favour of the Grand Alliance now. Paswan had crossed over from RJD to BJP in 2015. He contested as BJP nominee successfully in the 2020 polls.
