What's the row over temple 'purification' after Kanhaiya Kumar's visit
What's the story
Bihar is experiencing a political storm after a temple in Saharasa was allegedly washed and cleaned using ganga jal following Congress leader Kanhaiya Kumar's visit to the holy place.
Kumar had visited the Goddess Durga temple in Bangaon village during his Palayan Roko, Naukri Do (Stop Migration, Provide Jobs) yatra on Thursday.
The cleansing incident has now raised fears among supporters of non-BJP parties about being treated as "untouchables."
Aftermath
Temple premises cleaned post-Kumar's speech
Kumar, an upper-caste Bhumihar, had addressed a gathering at the temple as part of his yatra, which began on March 16 from West Champaran and will end on March 31.
After he left, local youths reportedly cleaned the temple premises with Ganga Jal.
The cleaning was allegedly supervised by Amit Chaudhary, a ward councilor representative from Nagar Panchayat Vangaon.
The individuals recalled Kanhaiya's outburst against the nation when serving as president of the Students' Union of Jawaharlal Nehru University.
Political fallout
Political divide deepens over temple 'purification' incident
"We have not forgotten the sedition charges against him. His sin has not ended yet," they said.
Reacting to the temple purification, the grand old party has accused its rivals of supporting untouchability.
"We want to know if only RSS and BJP supporters are pious people...The act has disrespected the descendants of Lord Parshuram. Have we entered a new phase of ultra-Sanskritization in which non-BJP parties and supporters will be treated as untouchables?" Congress spokesperson Gyan Ranjan Gupta told IE.
Twitter Post
Alleged video of the washing
Saharsa, Bihar: Local youths washed the Durga temple premises with Ganga Jal after Kanhaiya Kumar addressed a gathering there. pic.twitter.com/pX5GPIIeJI
— Mr Sinha (@MrSinha_) March 26, 2025
Response
BJP spokesperson demands verification of temple washing incident
The BJP, on the other hand, alleged that the act represented a "rejection" of Kumar's political ideas.
If a temple is washed after a Congress leader's visit, it shows rejection toward Kumar's brand of politics, BJP spokesperson Asit Nath Tiwari said.
Meanwhile, a Bangaon village resident said people of all castes and backgrounds are generally allowed entry in the temple, and it could be an act of some miscreants.