A viral video showing Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav eating fish fry on the eve of Chaitra Navratri has created political turmoil and triggered a national debate, with BJP leaders accusing him of hurting Hindu sentiments. After Prime Minister Narendra Modi stepped into the fray this week, Mr. Yadav hit back on Saturday, asking Mr. Modi to focus on jobs, inflation, and poverty rather than diverting attention from such “real issues”.
On April 9, the first day of the Navratri fast, Mr. Yadav posted a video on his X account, showing him in a poll campaign helicopter eating fish fry with ally and Vikasheel Insaan Party leader Mukesh Sahani. The post mentioned that the footage was shot on April 8, the day before Navratri began, and the video described how the political leaders were managing to keep fed and hydrated during the scorching heat of a summer campaign by drinking lots of liquids like watermelon juice, wood apple juice, and sattu (roasted gram mixed).
As BJP leaders in Bihar expressed their outrage against the “anti-Sanatana” act, Mr. Modi raised the stakes to a national debate by commenting on the incident at an election rally in Jammu on April 12. Without naming Mr. Yadav, he slammed Opposition leaders who publicised meat eating during the Navratri fasting period, accusing them of having a “Mughal mindset”. He also targeted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav for allegedly eating mutton during the holy month of Shravan last year.
