Prime Minister Narendra Modi sparked controversy on Saturday, May 25th, with sexist and derogatory remarks aimed at the opposition INDIA bloc during a rally in Bihar. Accusing the Congress-led alliance of appeasing Muslims, Modi stated that they could remain ‘enslaved’ and perform a ‘Mujra’ to please their vote bank. The PM also said the countdown had begun for RJD chief Lalu Prasad and his son Tejashwi Prasad Yadav to go to jail after the Lok Sabha elections.
The PM mentioned the Calcutta High Court order this week to cancel all the other backward classes (OBC) certificates issued by the West Bengal govt since 2010, by which 75 Muslim communities were given reservations under the OBC category.
Modi’s comments came during an address where he proclaimed to defend the rights of Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) against what he described as attempts by the opposition to divert these rights to Muslims. He also criticized the RJD, a key party in the opposition alliance, for their silence on derogatory remarks against Bihar migrants by leaders from Congress, DMK, and TMC.
The Prime Minister’s remarks drew strong reactions from opposition leaders and spokespersons. Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera accused Modi of losing his mental stability, suggesting that his remarks reflected a concerning state of mind. He said, “Today, I heard the word ‘mudra’ from the mouth of the Prime Minister. Modiji, what is this state of mind? Why don’t you take something? Amit Shah and JP Nadda ji should get him treated immediately. Perhaps delivering speeches under the sun has had too much of an effect on his brain,”
RJD national spokesperson Manoj Jha expressed worry over Modi’s mental state, stating, “Until yesterday, we disagreed with him, now we are worried about him. I had said recently that he is becoming a victim of delusion of grandeur. ‘Machli’, mutton, mangalsutra and ‘mujra’ … is this the language of a PM?”
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TMC MP Saket Gokhale criticized Modi’s language, noting a departure from his earlier rhetoric on women empowerment. “From ‘Naari Shakti’, the man has now come down to using words like ‘mujra’. After 10 years of public relations and a carefully curated image, Modi can’t hide his true self anymore. Such cheap language,” Gokhale remarked.
Modi also indirectly criticized Tejashwi Yadav, who has conducted over 200 election rallies by helicopter, by suggesting that his helicopter tours will soon lead to a path towards jail. He cautioned first-time voters against the return of ‘jungle raj’ (a term used to describe the RJD rule) in Bihar if they supported the opposition alliance.
Modi highlighted the past, stating that during RJD’s rule, people had to wait at railway stations until dawn to go home and accused the party of only benefiting their own family while leaving Bihar in darkness. Targeting the opposition leaders, Modi referred to Congress’s Rahul Gandhi, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, and Tejashwi Yadav as “shahzade” (princes).
He predicted that after the election results, Tejashwi would be preoccupied with bail issues, while Rahul Gandhi has already started planning vacations, and Akhilesh Yadav would be in shock after the fifth phase of Lok Sabha polls. Modi mocked Akhilesh for claiming victory in all 80 seats in Uttar Pradesh, attributing his misplaced confidence to his association with Rahul Gandhi.
Modi continued his attack on Lalu and Tejashwi, reiterating that their lantern symbol only illuminated their family home, plunging Bihar into darkness during their rule. Without naming him directly, Modi referred to Bhojpuri singer Pawan Singh, running against Rashtriya Lok Samta Party chief Upendra Kushwaha in Karakat, emphasizing that Bihar’s voters should cast their votes wisely as this election determines not just an MP but the country’s Prime Minister.
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