Patna: A viral video claiming that a temple in Bihar’s Saharsa was washed with Ganga Jal after Congress leader Kanhaiya Kumar’s visit has triggered a fierce political row, with accusations of untouchability and political intolerance flying between parties. The alleged incident occurred at the Goddess Durga temple in Bangaon village, where Kanhaiya Kumar, currently leading the “Palayan Roko, Naukri Do” (Stop Migration, Provide Jobs) yatra, addressed a gathering. However, shortly after his departure, some individuals were reportedly seen washing and cleaning the temple premises, an act that has drawn sharp criticism.
The footage, widely circulated on social media, has led to a bitter political debate. While Congress leaders slammed the act as caste-based discrimination, the BJP dismissed the allegations, calling it a rejection of Kanhaiya Kumar’s ideology rather than an act of untouchability. Congress spokesperson Gyan Ranjan Gupta condemned the alleged incident, questioning whether only BJP and RSS supporters were considered “pure” while others were treated as untouchables. “We want to know if only RSS and BJP supporters are pious people and the rest are untouchable. The act has disrespected the descendants of Lord Parshuram. Have we entered a new phase of ultra-Sanskritisation where non-BJP parties and supporters will be treated as untouchables?” Gupta told The Indian Express.
While Kanhaiya Kumar has chosen not to comment on the controversy, BJP leaders have defended the alleged cleaning of the temple, claiming that locals were simply maintaining religious customs and had no political motives. A BJP leader from Bihar, speaking anonymously, said, “This is not about caste or politics. Temples have traditions, and people have the right to maintain them as they see fit. Kanhaiya Kumar represents a brand of politics that many in Bihar reject, and this reaction is a reflection of that.”
