B for beedi, Bihar: Kerala Congress social media post stirs a storm, ally Tejashwi demands apology

The original post said, “Bidis and Bihar start with B. Cannot be considered a sin anymore.” Accompanying the message was a graphic comparing the existing and proposed GST rates, showing bidi taxes reduced from 28% to 18%, while cigarette taxes increased from 28% to 40%.

Following strong backlash, the Congress in Kerala issued an apology on the same platform, saying, “We see that our jibe at (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi’s election gimmick with GST rates is being twisted. Our apologies if you felt hurt.”

The earlier post was subsequently deleted. However, the political furore has escalated.

The RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav, Leader of the Opposition in Bihar and a prominent Congress ally, condemned the post, saying, “I haven’t seen the post, but if such a statement was made, it is extremely unfortunate and an apology must be issued. No one should make such remarks.” Subsequently speaking to the media, he said whatever the intention behind the post, it was a wrong. “We do not support it,” he said.

Congress Rajya Sabha MP Syed Naseer Hussain also criticised the post, saying, “No state or residents of any state should be compared to such things. I have not seen the tweet or the context in which it was posted, but if it was done, we will ask them to retract it. We will not tolerate this for the people of any state.”

‘Deeply insulting’

Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) leader Chirag Paswan called the comparison “deeply insulting to Bihar and crores of Biharis”. He said, “For the Congress and its leaders, the use of derogatory language is not new. Now their Kerala unit has insulted the dignity of Bihar with an objectionable comparison like ‘B for Bidi and B for Bihari’. This is an attack not only on Bihar but on the dignity of every Indian known for their hard work and self-respect.”

“The Opposition earlier insulted our respected Prime Minister, and now it is targeting Bihar and Biharis. This is disgraceful, shameful, and intolerable. I strongly condemn it,” Paswan said.

The Bihar unit of the BJP launched a scathing attack on the Congress in the context of the post. Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary said, “First, Congress insulted the revered mother of our respected Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, and now they’ve insulted the entire state of Bihar. This is the real character of the Congress, which keeps getting exposed before the country.”

Bihar Health Minister Mangal Pandey also condemned the post, saying, “If the Congress party posted such a tweet, it is a grave insult to the people of Bihar. Wherever the Congress has been in power, Biharis have faced humiliation. The Congress views the people of Bihar in a completely wrong light. This is an insult to every Bihari. I strongly condemn it.”

The controversy comes at a politically sensitive time, with Bihar heading to Assembly elections in the coming months. The Congress, part of the Mahagathbandhan alliance, is already under pressure in the state over the alleged use of abusive language against the Prime Minister from a stage erected to coincide with Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’ as it passed through Darbhanga. Though no national leader participating in the Yatra was at the event, the incident had escalated into a serious row.