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Bajrang Dal’s ‘love jihad’ tableau during Shivratri celebrations sparks row in Bihar’s Munger

Opposition parties Rashtriya Janata Dal and the Congress see tableau as “inciteful”; BJP, part of the state’s ruling Nitish Kumar coalition, claims the Bajrang Dal does not function legitimately in Bihar.

Munger’s Bajrang Dal convenor Saurabh S Sampanna told The Indian Express that the 'love jihad' tableau was meant to be a “social message”.Speaking to local reporters after the incident, Bajrang Dal district president Poddar alleged that the group found evidence of “conversion activities”. (Source: Express Archive/Representational)

A “love jihad” tableau during Bajrang Dal’s Shivratri celebrations in Bihar’s Munger town Wednesday has sparked a political row in the state, with Opposition parties seeing it as an attempt to stoke communal sentiments.

Part of a 50-off tableaux procession in Munger, it is believed to have featured “gory images” and “communally charged” messages. The remaining tableaux had images of Hindu God Shiva and Goddess Parvati.

“Love Jihad” is a term used by some outfits to level allegations of religious conversions by marriage.

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When asked, Munger’s Bajrang Dal convenor Saurabh S Sampanna told The Indian Express that it was meant to be a “social message”. “We did not name or target any religion and used some news items published in various newspapers. We wanted to draw people’s attention towards atrocities against Hindu women in the name of marriage.”

But Opposition parties Rashtriya Janata Dal and the Congress see the tableau as “inciteful”. “The state government should take note of such outrageous posters,” RJD spokesperson Mrityunjay Tiwari said.

Bihar Congress spokesperson Gyan Ranjan Gupta echoed the sentiments.

“The Constitution of India does not allow anyone to attack any religion directly or indirectly. The Bajrang Dal poster was in bad taste,” he said.

On its part, the BJP, which is part of the state’s ruling Nitish Kumar coalition, claims that the Bajrang Dal “does not function legitimately in Bihar as part of the RSS’s subsidiary wing”.

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“If some local people are calling themselves Bajrang Dal members, we have no idea. But love jihad is a matter of great concern and its social message could have been given in a better manner than using some gory images,” he said.

Santosh Singh is a Senior Assistant Editor with The Indian Express since June 2008. He covers Bihar with main focus on politics, society and governance. Investigative and explanatory stories are also his forte. Singh has 25 years of experience in print journalism covering Bihar, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka.   ... Read More

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