Ambedkar photo row: BJP attacks Lalu Prasad, demands apology
Bihar BJP chief Dilip Jaiswal and Union Minister Giriraj Singh launched a scathing attack on RJD national president Lalu Prasad Yadav on Monday, accusing him of allegedly insulting Dr BR Ambedkar, the architect of the Indian Constitution.
Dilip Jaiswal demanded an apology from Lalu and his family, alleging that a photograph of Ambedkar was placed near the feet of the RJD chief during his 78th birthday celebration on June 11.
'Baba Saheb Ambedkar is a messiah of the Dalit community and the entire nation. Lalu Prasad Yadav has insulted him by placing his photo at his feet. The people of this country will never forgive such an act,' Jaiswal said while interacting with the media persons.
Union Textile Minister Giriraj Singh echoed the sentiment and escalated the demand for an apology.
'Dr. Ambedkar is revered as a god-like figure in India. What Lalu Prasad Yadav did in arrogance -- placing his photo near his feet -- is shocking. He should apologise by standing in the Ganga river,' Singh said.
The controversy emerged from visuals that surfaced during Lalu's birthday event, where a photograph of Dr Ambedkar was seen placed near his feet. The BJP has taken strong objection to this, terming it an act of disrespect.
Meanwhile, Giriraj Singh also hit back at Tejashwi Yadav, who had recently alleged nepotism in the Nitish Kumar government, claiming that the sons-in-law of leaders like Ram Vilas Paswan, Jitan Ram Manjhi, and Ashok Choudhary were given plum positions in various commissions.
'The way Tejashwi Yadav is speaking, it's like a thief accusing someone of theft. He should introspect before making such allegations,' the Union Minister retorted.
The RJD has yet to issue a formal response to the allegations. However, the incident has added a new dimension to the ongoing war of words between the BJP-led NDA and the RJD-led opposition, especially with the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections on the horizon.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
32 minutes ago
- Time of India
Varanasi gears up for CZC meeting, final touches underway
1 2 Varanasi: With the Central Zonal Council (CZC) meeting scheduled for June 25, preparations have intensified in Varanasi. Beautification works are nearing completion, particularly along routes that will witness VIP movements beginning Monday evening. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, and the CMs of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttarakhand are expected to attend the meeting. According to officials, this will be the first time a non-state capital city is hosting a zonal council meeting, mrking a significant moment for Varanasi following its successful hosting of G20 events in 2023. Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Divisional Commissioner S. Rajalingam and Commissioner of Police Mohit Agrawal confirmed that all logistical and security arrangements are in the final stages. The visiting CMs— Pushkar Singh Dhami (Uttarakhand), Mohan Yadav (Madhya Pradesh), and Vishnu Deo Sai (Chhattisgarh) — will arrive in the city on Monday. That evening, they will offer prayers at the Kaal Bhairav and Kashi Vishwanath temples before proceeding to the meeting venue at Hotel Taj in Nadesar on Tuesday morning. To ensure smooth movement and aesthetic appeal, authorities are focusing on key areas including the stretch from Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport to Hotel Taj and the roads leading to both temples. Thematic display boards are being installed along the Varuna bridge, while road dividers are being freshly painted. Work on enhancing street lighting and greenery is also nearing completion, with multiple agencies working in coordination. On the security front, Commissioner Agrawal said a multi-layered deployment plan has been finalised. Security personnel will be stationed at the venue and across the VIP routes. Measures include rooftop surveillance, deployment of officers in plain clothes, drone monitoring, and route diversions. Traffic diversions will remain in effect from Monday evening until the dignitaries' departure on Tuesday. CM Yogi during his visit to the venue on June 16, had reviewed the arrangements and instructed officials to ensure the timely completion of all pending work. With issues from multiple departments expected to be discussed, senior officials from Union ministries and departments of the four participating states have already started arriving in the city.
The Hindu
41 minutes ago
- The Hindu
West Bengal BJP chief faces flak over ‘sex workers' remark
West Bengal Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president and Union Minister of State for Education Sukanta Majumdar has landed into a controversy for a remark directed at sex workers in Kolkata's Sonagachi area. The Trinamool Congress on Saturday (June 21, 2025) criticised Mr. Majumdar's remarks and demanded an 'unconditional apology' from the BJP leader. During an altercation with the police on Friday (June 20, 2025), Mr. Majumdar compared Bengal's law and order situation with 'sex workers.' Several leaders of the ruling Trinamool Congress spoke against Mr. Majumdar and said that not only the BJP leader insulted sex workers but all the women in the State. 'Sex workers are among the most marginalised and exploited women in our society. They battle stigma, survive abuse, and yet show unimaginable courage just to feed themselves and their children. And what did @BJP4IndiaState President @DrSukantaBJP do? He dragged them through the mud, using their lives and livelihoods as a slur to attack the people of Bengal. Shame on you, BJP. And shame on you, Sukanta Majumdar. You owe every sex worker, every woman, and every resident of Bengal an UNCONDITIONAL APOLOGY,' the TMC posted on X. .@BJP4India State President @DrSukantaBJP owes sex workers an UNCONDITIONAL APOLOGY for his DISGRACEFUL, DEHUMANISING remarks. Using one of the most vulnerable groups in our society as a punchline for political mudslinging is INEXCUSABLE. Those who spew such filth have no moral… — All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) June 21, 2025 Senior Trinamool Congress leader Kunal Ghosh said that the BJP leader was referring to sex workers of Sonagachi as an 'expletive'. West Bengal Minister Sashi Panja said that though Sukanta Majumdar claims to be a teacher, but his remarks are 'very disgusting, very disparaging and very disgraceful'. 'He has said that the law and order situation or the law in Bengal can be equated to Songachi sex workers. This is so humiliating to Sonagachi sex workers and we stand by them.' Dr Panja, who represents the constituency where Sonagachi is located. The West Bengal ruling party said using one of the 'most vulnerable groups in our society as a punchline for political mudslinging is inexcusable' and added that those 'who spew such filth have no moral right to occupy any Constitutional office'. The remark by the BJP president comes at a time when the BJP leadership is demanding action against Trinamool Congress leader Anubrata Mondal, who used vile language against the mother and wife of the officer-in-charge of Bolpur Police station. An FIR has been filed against Mr. Mondal and the National Commission for Women has sought an action taken report from the police for the TMC leader's remarks. While the police are of the opinion that there is no necessity to arrest the TMC leader, the State ruling has let off Anubrata Mondal without any punishment after he tendered a public apology.
Time of India
43 minutes ago
- Time of India
Next-gen netas add flavour to old jaat-paat politics in battle for Bihar
Family Drama: The romance saga involving Lalu's older son Tej Pratap Yadav (right) has become a political issue. It has also created a rift with brother Tejashwi The forthcoming 2025 Bihar assembly election promises to be interesting in many ways. First, it is shaping up to be an election dominated by youth—or, at least, by leaders who are being projected as 'youthful' by their parties. Leaders like RJD chief Tejashwi Yadav , Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan, Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary, election strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor, former Bihar CM Jitan Ram Manjhi's son Santosh Kumar Suman, and the UK-return Pushpam Priya Choudhary are actively holding public rallies and campaigning across Bihar's villages, towns, and bastis. Although most of these leaders are aged between 35 and 55, many young voters in Bihar identify with them. They are seen as relatively fresh, energetic alternatives to older politicians, and not 'phunka hua teer' (a spent, ineffective arrow) or 'chala hua khokha' (an empty, fired shell of a bullet), colloquial jabs that youth often use to describe those past their political prime. Still, this is less a break from the past than a rebranding of it. Except for Kishor, most of these contenders are inheritors of political legacies—sons and daughters stepping into dynastic shoes. There is also speculation that Nishant Kumar, the son of Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, may contest because of concerns over his father's health. This generational churn reflects Bihar's demographic reality: according to Census data, 57% of its population is under 25—the highest proportion of young people in the country. That youth bulge is beginning to reshape the political conversation. Second, adding a dramatic subplot to the political theatre is the ongoing family saga involving Tej Pratap Yadav, the elder son of Lalu Prasad Yadav. In a twist worthy of a prime-time soap opera, Tej Pratap recently declared his love for Anushka Yadav on social media, claiming a 12-year-long relationship—despite still being married to Aishwarya Rai, the granddaughter of former CM Daroga Prasad Rai. Though he later claimed his Facebook account was hacked and the photos doctored, Lalu responded by expelling his son from the RJD for six years, citing 'irresponsible behaviour' and actions 'not in accordance with our family values and traditions.' This is no longer just a private family 'affair'—it has entered the political sphere and is likely to influence the election discourse. The controversy has triggered heated inter-generational debates across Bihar, especially between youth and parents in rural and urban areas. Some critics seized the opportunity to question the moral character and family values of RJD, framing the situation as an injustice against Tej Pratap's estranged wife Aishwarya Rai. While many RJD leaders have been on the defensive, some have pointed to similar precedents—such as Ram Vilas Paswan's second marriage — to argue for personal freedom. Among young voters, opinion is split. Some, especially those under-25 voters, seem to sympathise with Tej Pratap and feel Lalu was unnecessarily harsh on his son. Others, particularly in rural Bihar, are uncomfortable with the spectacle and the social media melodrama, especially given the unresolved allegations of domestic abuse from his marriage to Aishwarya. Beyond the controversy, this younger (or young-adjacent) generation of politicians does appear to have injected new energy into the campaign. Their social media battles are flashier, complete with rap tracks and viral videos. More significantly, they are foregrounding issues such as employment, education, youth welfare, public health, and development. Tejashwi Yadav—who focused on unemployment and migration in the 2020 campaign—has promised a 100% domicile policy and job opportunities for locals if voted to power. Prashant Kishor, too, has laid out a vision aimed at reversing Bihar's migration crisis and boosting employment. This shift signals a possible transformation in Bihar's political culture—one that may be inching away from traditional identity politics toward more development-centric narratives. Still, it would be naïve to assume that jaat-paat no longer matters; parties know full well how caste arithmetic can make or break electoral fortunes. No surprise then that, besides nationalism, the NDA is expected to counter the Mahagathbandan's narrative by focusing on its own initiative to include caste data in the upcoming national Census. In a state as politically fragmented as Bihar, it's tough to tell which of these leaders or coalitions will get the upper hand. But what's clear is that the voices and aspirations of young Biharis will dominate the discourse—by sheer demographic force, if nothing else. And in the background, the saga of Tej Pratap Yadav will likely continue to echo through the campaign— reminiscent of the age-old tota-maina stories with love, loyalty and betrayal. Narayan is director, G B Pant Social Science Institute
