Congress-RJD insulting Chhath: PM Modi hits back at Mahagathbandhan ahead of Bihar Assembly Elections
While addressing a mega rally in the poll-bound state, PM Modi announced that the Centre was working to get Chhath Puja included in the Unesco Intangible Cultural Heritage list.
PTC News Desk: Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his Bihar rally ahead of the state assembly elections tore into the Mahagathbandhan, accusing Congress and the RJD leaders of insulting 'Chhathi Maiya' for votes.
The remarks came in response to Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi's attack that the PM was doing 'drama' over Chhath Puja, the most widely celebrated festival in Bihar, during which prayers are offered to Hindu goddess Chhathi Maata, or Maiya, as is said in the local dialect.
The BJP criticised Gandhi's remarks, calling them as an insult to the public faith in Chhath Puja, with the Prime Minister advocating the issue at an election rally in Muzaffarpur on Thursday.
"Your son is busy praising Chhathi Maiya before the world. (But) Congress and RJD leaders are insulting Chhathi Maiya. Can anyone ever insult Chhathi Maiya to get votes in an election? Will Bihar tolerate such an insult? Will India, will my mothers, those who observe the Nirjala fast (a fast without water), tolerate this?" PM Modi said.
"How shamelessly are the RJD and Congress speaking? For them, the worship of Chhathi Maiya is just a drama, a farce?" asked the prime minister, adding that such an insult would remain in public memory for centuries. "Bihar is the land of self-respect. Bihar will never forgive those who have insulted Chhath Puja."
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has described five identities of the RJD-Congress alliance in Bihar. "RJD-Congress can be identified by five things. What have the RJD-Congress done? Katta, krurta, katuta, kusashan, corruption... Where there is 'katta', where cruelty reigns, there the law breaks down," he added.
While addressing a mega rally in the poll-bound state, PM Modi announced that the Centre was working to get Chhath Puja included in the Unesco Intangible Cultural Heritage list. "This will be a matter of pride for every Bihari and every Indian. Our government is striving to ensure that the world also learns from these values," he added.