Journalism of Courage
Photos of Bihar Education and IT Minister Ashok Kumar Choudhary holding snakes have gone viral on the internet, prompting the Grand Alliance partners to voice disapproval.
One photo shows Choudhary, also the Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee chief, holding a snake at home. Another shows state Congress vice-president Subodh Kumar seeking his blessings.
“There can be no place for superstition in a scientific society,” said JD(U) spokesperson K C Tyagi. RJD spokesperson Manoj Jha echoed: “People in public life should set examples of scientific temperament and shun archaic practices.”
Choudhary said: “I am against superstition. These are old pictures… Snake charmers had come to entertain children. They put the snakes in my hands.” But Kumar said the photos were from a “Makar Sankranti puja”.
