Bihar – The Modi Chhath Halloween controversy emerged as a central campaign issue on Monday, November 3, as the Bharatiya Janata Party and Prime Minister Narendra Modi sought to frame the opposition Mahagathbandhan as anti-Hindu. Election campaigning in Bihar took a sharp religious and cultural turn, with BJP strategically juxtaposing traditional Hindu festivals against Western cultural celebrations to create a powerful political narrative.
The Modi Chhath Halloween controversy centers on BJP’s allegations that opposition parties, particularly RJD and Congress, prioritize Western culture over traditional Hindu festivals. This controversy has become a defining moment in Bihar’s electoral politics, with both sides engaging in intense rhetoric.
Lalu Yadav’s Halloween Celebration Sparks Backlash
At the heart of the Modi Chhath Halloween controversy lies a video of veteran RJD leader Lalu Prasad Yadav celebrating Halloween with his grandchildren at home. The visuals, shared by his daughter Rohini Acharya, showed children dressed in various costumes, including one as a Grim Reaper, while Yadav laughed and enjoyed time with them.
BJP immediately seized upon this Halloween celebration as evidence supporting their narrative in the Modi Chhath Halloween controversy. The party’s farmers’ wing posted on social media platforms, reminding Bihar voters that this was the same Lalu Yadav who in February called the Kumbh festival “meaningless” or “faltu.” The post emphasized the contrast between dismissing traditional Hindu festivals while enthusiastically celebrating foreign festivals like Halloween.
BJP Links Opposition to Chhath Festival Insult
The Modi Chhath Halloween controversy intensified when Home Minister Amit Shah explicitly linked the RJD-Congress alliance to insulting the Chhath festival, which holds immense religious significance in Bihar and was celebrated just days before these campaign speeches. Speaking at a rally in Shivhar, Shah directly accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of insulting Chhathi Maiya, the mother deity worshipped during Chhath Puja.
Shah’s accusations in the Modi Chhath Halloween controversy referred to Gandhi’s claims that Prime Minister Modi had a clean pond created for himself next to the polluted Yamuna in BJP-ruled Delhi to perform what Gandhi termed as “drama” on Chhath. Shah declared that by making such statements, the opposition had insulted not just Modi but the sacred festival itself and the deity associated with it.
Prime Minister Modi’s Multi-Pronged Attack
Prime Minister Modi’s involvement elevated the Modi Chhath Halloween controversy to a national conversation. At multiple rallies for NDA candidates, Modi accused the RJD-Congress combine of being disdainful towards Chhath Puja while simultaneously opposing the Ram temple at Ayodhya. This strategic linking of multiple religious issues created a comprehensive narrative about opposition’s alleged anti-Hindu stance.
In the Modi Chhath Halloween controversy, Modi also raised security concerns, alleging that opposition parties were being soft on “infiltrators.” Speaking in an area with significant Muslim population, Modi stopped short of making direct communal allegations but stated that INDIA bloc parties were “compromising national security” and had “jumped in to protect infiltrators” whenever BJP took steps to remove them.
Historical Context: Lalu’s Kumbh Remarks
The Modi Chhath Halloween controversy gained additional ammunition from Lalu Yadav’s past statements. BJP highlighted his February remark calling the Kumbh festival pomp “meaningless” or “faltu.” This historical comment became crucial evidence in BJP’s argument that opposition leaders consistently disrespect Hindu festivals and traditions while embracing Western cultural celebrations.
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The juxtaposition in the Modi Chhath Halloween controversy between dismissing India’s largest religious gathering and celebrating a Western holiday became a powerful campaign tool for BJP, particularly effective among traditional voters who value religious and cultural heritage.
Priyanka Gandhi’s Counter-Attack
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra responded sharply to the Modi Chhath Halloween controversy by mocking Prime Minister Modi’s focus on alleged insults. Addressing rallies in Saharsa and Lakhisarai districts, she suggested Modi should establish a new “Apamaan Mantralaya” (Ministry of Insults) given his government’s apparent obsession with perceived slights.
Priyanka’s response to the Modi Chhath Halloween controversy accused Modi of deliberately diverting public attention from critical governance issues including unemployment, corruption, and poverty. She claimed that whenever citizens ask legitimate questions, Modi either ignores them or complains about being insulted, rather than providing substantive answers about development and governance.
Electoral Strategy and Implications
The Modi Chhath Halloween controversy represents a calculated electoral strategy by BJP to mobilize voters on religious and cultural identity issues. By contrasting traditional Hindu festivals with Western celebrations, BJP attempts to position itself as the protector of Indian culture and Hindu traditions.
Lalu Prasad Yadav, despite remaining mostly in the background due to corruption cases and health issues, continues to be a prime target for PM Modi and NDA in the Modi Chhath Halloween controversy. His past statements and recent actions provide BJP with continuous ammunition for their cultural nationalism narrative, making this controversy a potentially decisive factor in Bihar’s electoral outcome.
