Why Union minister Giriraj Singh’s proposed yatra has made ally JD(U) ‘uncomfortable’

Though the yatra is yet to be officially announced, sources told The Indian Express that it is likely to commence on October 18 in Bhagalpur and traverse through Kishanganj, Purnia, Araria and Katihar – areas in Seemanchal with a significant Muslim population – before concluding on October 22.

The NDA had lost Purnia, Katihar and Kishanganj in the recent Lok Sabha elections while retaining the Araria seat. While Independent Pappu Yadav defeated the JD(U)’s Santosh Kumar Kushwaha in Purnia, the Congress’s Tariq Anwar defeated the JD(U)’s Dular Chandra Goswami in Katihar. In Kishanganj, JD(U) leader Mujahid Alam was defeated by Congress nominee Mohammad Jawed.

The Opposition too has slammed the proposed yatra, saying the idea is “fraught with apprehensions of causing communal discord”. “He (Singh) is a Union minister who has taken oath on the Constitution, which does not allow anyone to speak divisively on religious lines. Such a minister should be dropped for the very idea of carrying out such a yatra,” RJD national spokesperson Subodh Kumar Mehta told The Indian Express.

Echoing Mehta’s views, senior Congress leader Prem Chandra Mishra wondered how Hindu pride could be at stake when a NDA government was helming the state and said Singh must be stopped from undertaking the yatra.

The Union minister, who is known for his aggressive stance, seemed unmoved and defended his idea. “I wonder why some people have issues with me undertaking a yatra. When (RJD leader) Tejashwi Yadav held a yatra, no one complained. No one opposed when (Jan Suraaj Party founder) Prashant Kishor held a yatra. I have said it several times that Hindus need to be united. Batoge toh katoge (divided we will fall),” he recently told reporters.

The BJP claimed Singh is working on a “social cause” and his yatra will not hurt anyone. “Singh has raised the issue of how Hindus in Purvanchal are low on confidence and there is a need to invoke a sense of pride in them. He is also focused on the Seemanchal belt where Hindus are either in a minority (Kishanganj) or feel threatened,” party spokesperson Manoj Sharma said.