Bihar BJP Minister Hands Out Blankets Amid 40°C Heat, Leaves Internet Wondering Why

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Patna: Bihar Sports Minister and BJP MLA Surendra Mehta has found himself at the center of an online storm after distributing blankets to villagers in the middle of an intense summer, with temperatures hovering around 40 degrees Celsius. The unusual move came during an event held on April 6 in Ahiyaapur village under the Mansurchak block of Begusarai district, marking the Bharatiya Janata Party’s 45th foundation day.

The event, attended by over 700 villagers, featured the distribution of ang vastra — a term traditionally used for ceremonial cloth given as a token of respect. However, the choice of a blanket as the form of this ang vastra, given the scorching April heat sweeping across North India, left many scratching their heads and others furiously typing away on social media.

Photos and videos of the event quickly went viral, drawing sharp reactions from users who questioned the timing and relevance of such a gesture. Critics argued that the symbolism, however well-intended, clashed starkly with the reality of the weather conditions.

Tripura Congress secretary Sanjib Bhattacharya was among those who used the moment to highlight political irony. Sharing a video clip from the event on X (formerly Twitter), Bhattacharya wrote, “As soon as the Congress party launched the ‘Palayan Roko, Naukri Do’ campaign for the youth of Bihar, it sparked visible unease among BJP leaders in the state. So much so, that Bihar Sports Minister Surendra Mehta quickly rolled out a ‘blanket distribution’ scheme — in the middle of scorching summer.”

From a colorfully decorated stage, Mehta addressed the crowd, portraying the gesture as one of honour and appreciation. In a Facebook post made shortly after the event — and later deleted — Mehta stated, “On the 45th foundation day of the world’s largest party committed to the upliftment of the poor and nation-building, we honoured people in Ahiyaapur by offering ang vastra. Jai BJP, Jai Bharat Mata.”

While Mehta did not publicly respond to the criticism, the optics of the event — winter items distributed amid a blistering heatwave — have triggered conversations around political messaging, tone-deaf symbolism, and election-time theatrics.

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