Temple purification row erupts in Bihar after Kanhaiya Kumar's visit | VIDEO

Bihar: A huge controversy has broken out in Bihar over the so-called 'purification of a temple' following a visit by Congress leader Kanhaiya Kumar to Saharsa. A video shared on social media indicates a temple in Saharasa being cleaned and washed with Ganga water (gangajal) following Kanhaiya Kumar's address to a crowd there. 

Incident Sparks Controversy and Political Tensions

The incident occurred at the Goddess Durga temple of Bangaon village, where Kanhaiya Kumar gave a speech, heading the Palayan Roko, Naukri Do (Stop Migration, Provide Jobs) yatra. The controversy ensued when some people allegedly started washing the temple ground soon after his visit. The video soon became viral on social media. The clip was posted by news agency. Political tensions have erupted following the video of the temple cleaning, as Congress has blamed its rivals of imitating untouchability and the BJP construed the act as repudiation of Kumar's ideology.

Congress and BJP engage in war of words

However, Kanhaiya Kumar has not commented on the viral video till now. On the other hand, Congress spokesperson Gyan Ranjan Gupta strongly criticised the BJP, questioning whether only RSS and BJP supporters are considered "pious" while others are treated as untouchables.
We wish to know whether BJP and RSS supporters alone are religious persons and the rest are untouchables. The bill has insulted Lord Parshuram's descendants.

Saharsa, Bihar: Local youths washed the Durga temple premises with Ganga Jal after Kanhaiya Kumar addressed a gathering there. pic.twitter.com/pX5GPIIeJI

— Mr Sinha (@MrSinha_) March 26, 2025

Kanhaiya Kumar's background and the temple's caste-inclusive policy

Have we seen a new era of ultra-Sanskritization where BJP and RSS party people and their supporters will be declared untouchables?" Gupta inquired while talking to the Indian Express.Interestingly, former JNU Students' Union president Kanhaiya Kumar is from the upper-caste Bhumihar community. In the meantime, BJP spokesperson Asit Nath Tiwari called for authentication of both the video and the individuals involved before conclusions are drawn.

Bihar Congress launches state-wide pada-yatra

"First of all, we should first confirm the identity of the people who washed the temple after Kanhaiya Kumar's visit. And if a temple is washed after the Congress leader's visit, it reflects the kind of rejection towards Kanhaiya Kumar's brand of politics," Tiwari said.
When the media asked the local residents, they replied that the temple is open to all castes and that the act of washing the temple could have been a miscreant's plot.

On Sunday, the Bihar Congress organized a state-wide pada-yatra with the theme Palayan Roko, Naukri Do to raise the question of unemployment in the state. Under the campaign, Kanhaiya Kumar went to West Champaran, where members of the party youth and student organizations began the yatra.