In an embarrassment to the Bharatiya Janata Party in Bihar, one of its MLAs has been accused of hurting Hindu sentiments by pointing out that even those who did not worship Goddess Lakshmi, Saraswati and Lord Hanuman were not denied the attributes that worship of these deities was expected to bestow.
Lalan Paswan, who represents Pirpainti assembly seat in Bhagalpur district, while announcing his decision not to hold a feast in the memory of his mother who died last week, purportedly rationalised that those who do not worship these Hindu deities still enjoyed wealth, education and power.
A video clip, which has now gone viral on social media and is being flashed by news channels, shows the MLA questioning the custom of 'Mrityubhoj' and making a pitch for rationality and scientific temper.
He also pointed out, "Saraswati and Lakshmi are not worshipped by Muslims and Christians. This has not deprived these communities of wealth and learning. Bajrang Bali (Lord Hanuman) is not revered in the US but the country is still a superpower. It is all just a matter of belief".
The alleged comments, however, led to an outrage with some radical Hindu groups burning an effigy of the MLA in Bhagalpur town.
State BJP president Sanjay Jaiswal also voiced disapproval of the MLA's conduct and sought an explanation from Paswan.
"Being an elected representative he should say things thoughtfully. I have spoken to him and asked him for a written explanation, based on which further action may be taken," Jaiswal said in response to queries from journalists.
However, parties opposed to the BJP were quick to latch on the opportunity.
"We hope the MLA does not need the votes of those who worship gods and goddesses," quipped Rashtriya Janata Dal spokesperson Mrityunjay Tiwari.
He also wondered how the BJP reconciled such statements with its war cry being 'Jai Shri Ram'.
Congress legislative party leader Ajeet Sharma, who is also the second-term Bhagalpur MLA, said, "I am a proud Hindu who worships all gods and goddesses. Paswan is entitled to his beliefs but he should have refrained from making a public statement on the same."
Paswan, meanwhile, claimed that the video clip was "edited" and showered effusive praise on the BJP and the RSS, "to which people like me, born in a caste deemed to be untouchable, owe their standing".
A first-term MLA, Paswan, has remained in news in his less than two years-long tenure, often for the wrong reasons.
He hogged the limelight soon after the 2020 assembly polls by leaking an audio clip in which RJD supremo Lalu Prasad, who was then in judicial custody, could be heard asking him over the phone to abstain from voting for the Speaker's election.
Last year, a video had gone viral in which he was seen selling 'bhoonja', a popular snack made of puffed rice and roasted gram, at a roadside stall.
Another video went viral earlier this year in which he could be seen gyrating lustily alongside a bunch of female dancers.
