While Bihar politics continues to simmer over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and the law-and-order situation because of multiple cases of killings in recent weeks, the latest incident to cause an uproar is a lunch hosted by Union Minister and Janata Dal (United) leader Rajiv Ranjan Singh, where mutton was served. This has stirred a debate around food, religion and politics, with Opposition parties terming it a case of “double standards” during the Hindu holy month of Sawan.
On Wednesday, after laying the foundation stone for various government projects in Surajgarha in Lakhisarai district, the Union Minister, popularly known as Lalan Singh, and Bihar Rural Development Minister Ashok Chaudhary arranged a multi-course lunch for those who attended the event. The menu included both vegetarian options and meat dishes, including mutton.
In a video filmed at the event, Lalan Singh is heard announcing from the stage, “Bhojan bana hua hai, badhiya bhojan hai, Sawan ka bhi intezam hai … Sawan wala bhi bhojan hai aur jo Sawan mah ko nahi mante hain unke liye bhi bhojan hai (Food has been prepared for everyone, there is excellent food. There are special arrangements for the month of Sawan; Sawan-specific food is available. Those who don’t observe dietary restrictions during this month, there’s food for them too).”
Targeting the Union Minister and the ruling NDA, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) spokesperson Mrityunjay Tiwari said, “This is a classic case of double standards. The same people who questioned Lalu and Rahul Gandhi on dietary choices during Sawan are now hosting mutton parties. When Tejashwi Yadav’s fish photo or Rahul’s meal with Lalu Ji went viral, there was a hue and cry. Now the Prime Minister and NDA leaders should explain.”
Tiwari was referring to the political row that erupted two years ago when RJD chief Lalu Prasad cooked Champaran mutton and served it to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. It was filmed in August 2023, during Sawan, at the Delhi residence of Lalu’s daughter Misa Bharti, and the video was shared on Gandhi’s social media channels. Last year, a video of RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav having fish during Navratri also caused a storm, with BJP leaders targeting him. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several BJP leaders subsequently accused the Opposition leaders of “offending religious sentiments by eating non-vegetarian food during Savan and Navratri”.
Though the JD(U) was in alliance with the RJD and part of the INDIA bloc of Opposition parties nationally when the controversy over the Lalu-Rahul video occurred, one of its MLAs said the former Bihar CM had gone a “little crazy” after undergoing a kidney transplant.
“We made those remarks back then keeping Lalu ji’s health in mind. He had undergone a kidney transplant, so we advised avoiding oily and fatty foods, as his people weren’t taking proper care of his diet. We spoke as well-wishers, but they turned it into a political issue. Similarly, Tejashwi Ji was eating fish in a helicopter, and since helicopters vibrate, there was a risk the bones could get stuck, so our comment was for his well-being. At Lalan ji’s party, there was no onion or garlic, and people had options of both vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes,” said JD(U) spokesperson Neeraj Kumar.
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Hitting out at the NDA, Lalu’s another daughter Rohini Acharya wrote on X, “Those who keep staging pretences and spreading falsehoods, who criticise others’ food habits, are deceitful and cunning schemers. Their words and actions never match, they whisper poisonous incantations. They hide the true meaning of religion, and end up swallowing their own words. In reality, they are people of double standards.”
Congress spokesperson Gyan Ranjan Gupta said, “People like Lalan Singh win elections by any means necessary, including serving mutton, chicken and liquor to mislead people. They have no concrete plans for Bihar, and they have been resorting to such tactics to win votes. With rising crime and unemployment in Bihar, it shows their indifference to the people’s real issues.”
