‘Tika-chandan’ and a hug: Nitish Kumar plays to the gallery as JD(U) defensive over BJP attacks

After the Sanatan Dharma controversy, an RJD minister’s critical comments about the Ramcharitmanas led the BJP to attack the JD(U) and RJD and paint them as “anti-Hindu”. With his public actions and remarks, the Bihar CM has been trying to counter that narrative.

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Since the Sanatan Dharma controversy broke earlier this month, parties belonging to the Opposition INDIA alliance have come under attack from the BJP, which has tried to paint the bloc as “anti-Hindu”. This posed a problem for INDIA members that have a presence primarily in the Hindi heartland. But as the controversy seemed to be dying down, a comment by a Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) minister on the Ramcharitmanas has pushed Nitish Kumar into the corner again and forced him into public posturing to show that the Janata Dal (United) has never been anti-Hindu.

Last Monday, following a public meeting in Patna, the Bihar Chief Minister made state Building Construction Minister Ashok Kumar Choudhary touch his forehead with that of a journalist in full view of the cameras. Both the minister and the journalist were sporting tilaks. As this unusual act was being interpreted in various ways, the CM explained on the sidelines of a function on Thursday, “I have nothing against any religion. In fact, I respect all religions and their symbols, including the tika-chandan (a mark on the forehead made with sandalwood paste).” He then went on to embrace Choudhary, placing his head on the minister’s shoulder.

Following Bihar Education Minister Chandra Shekhar’s comments last week targeting certain portions of the Ramcharitmanas, the BJP had renewed its allegation that the parties of the ruling Mahagathbandan in Bihar were against Hinduism and pander to the sentiments of minority communities for votes. Chandrashekar had made similar comments earlier this year. Last week, at a rally in Jahnjharpur in Madhubani district, Shah accused the JD(U) and the RJD of engaging in appeasement politics. Union Minister Giriraj Singh declared at the rally that Sanatan Dharma was in danger, exhorting people to come forward to “save it”. Nitish Kumar’s actions this week were seen as a counter to that.

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Said a JD(U) leader, “We have long been an ally of the BJP. Yet, no one can cite any instance of us favouring any particular religion. While our government has been fencing (Muslim) cemeteries, it has also been removing encroachments from temple properties and fencing them for safety.” JD(U) MLC and Bihar Religious Trust Council member Neeraj Kumar said, “The trust has freed many temples and mutts from encroachments and has been fencing them.”

Also read | Nitish Kumar seen as hedging his bets again as JD(U) not part of Oppn letter over Central agencies

Chandrashekhar, however, stuck to his comments that had triggered the controversy. “I have not spoken against any deity but have raised questions on certain casteist references in the Ramcharitmanas,” he said. RJD insiders also pointed out that its president Lalu Prasad had visited several temples, including Deoghar in Jharkhand and Thawe temple in Gopalganj earlier this month.

But state BJP vice president Santosh Pathak said he was having none of it. “We have seen Nitish Kumar hosting and visiting numerous Iftar parties just to appease one section of society. We have also seen the ittehad yatra of the JD(U) for similar reasons. The JD(U) has been against the construction of the Ram Mandir and reforms in Kashmir. He has been running a government with the RJD, which is a champion of pseudo-secularism in Bihar. Whatever he does now, it will not be enough for Nitish to return to power,” he told The Indian Express.

Santosh Singh

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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