RJD candidate from Chapra and Bhojpuri actor-singer Khesari Lal Yadav has stirred controversy during the Bihar elections with his recent statement linking the construction of Ram temple to the need for hospitals, jobs, and education. Khesari’s statement has been strongly condemned by several BJP leaders, who are also popular actors in Bhojpuri industry.
Recently, BJP leaders Manoj Tiwari and Dinesh Lal Yadav Nirahua, while expressing confidence in the NDA’s victory, sharply targeted Khesari. Both leaders asserted that after the first phase of voting, the NDA is leading with a majority and the public is expressing confidence in the development work of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Tiwari said that after the first phase of polling, the NDA’s position is very strong, and women are openly extending their support to the alliance. He added that Bihar has moved beyond crime and ‘jungle raj’ and is on the path of development. Echoing similar stance, Nirahua stated that his party’s goal is not to defeat any particular individual, but to defeat every candidate of the Grand Alliance.
Nirahua warns Khesari
Targeting Khesari, Nirahua said, “I have no caste rivalry with him, but his statement on Lord Ram is wrong; he is insulting the Sanatan tradition. Do politics against Manoj ji or me, but not against God.” Nirahua also took a dig at Khesari, saying, “Khesari himself has admitted that he was poor and uneducated, so now that he has money, he should educate himself a little before speaking.” He further recalled the days of Bihar’s ‘Jungle Raj’, claiming that when he used to visit the state for performances, he was warned not to enter after 6 pm due to the prevailing law and order situation at the time.
Both leaders have urged Khesari to reconsider his statement regarding Lord Ram, emphasising that this is not just a matter of politics but of faith and sentiment.
Khesari clarifies on his Mandir Remark
Meanwhile, clarifying his remark on Ram temple, Khesari said that he respects the Ram Mandir but questioned whether building temples alone could decide the future of children. He added that while temples are important for faith, equal attention should be given to development, employment, and education.
“What I meant to say is, it is indeed important to build Ram Mandir, but is it not important to build hospitals? Are jobs not important? Is education not important? Will we vote for Trump for jobs? People had voted for you. Go ahead and build temples everywhere but will temples decide the future of our children? If temples decide the future of our children, I would want you to build 200 temples in Bihar and show how many children’s futures you have decided through that…God resides in our heart and devotion, temples have just an idol. So, build everything…” Khesari said.
