What’s the row over Bihar temple ‘washed’ after Congress leader Kanhaiya Kumar’s visit?

A massive row has erupted in Bihar over temple washing after a Congress leader’s visit.

The temple in the Saharsa district was reportedly washed after Kanhaiya Kumar’s visit on Thursday.

The incident has sparked a verbal spat in which supporters of non-BJP parties have questioned whether they “would be treated as untouchables.”

The BJP has responded by claiming that the act demonstrated a “rejection” of Kumar’s political views.

Here’s all we know about the row.

The temple washing

The incident took place at the Goddess Durga temple at Bangaon village, which Kanhaiya Kumar visited during his ongoing ‘Palayan Roko, Naukri Do’ (Stop Migration, Provide Jobs) yatra.

From the temple grounds, Kumar, a member of the upper-caste Bhumihar community, gave an address.

In a widely shared video, some individuals are seen splattering buckets of water about the temple grounds, purportedly following the Congress leader’s exit.

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

On Wednesday, the local youths cleaned the temple courtyard and the speech venue with Gangajal u nder the direction of Amit Chaudhary, a ward councillor representative from Nagar Panchayat Vangaon, according to ETV Bharat.

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Firstpost couldn’t verify the visuals independently.

The former JNUSU president began the first leg of the yatra on March 16 from West Champaran and will conclude on March 31 in Kishanganj.

Day-12

आज सहरसा में विश्राम के बाद कल सुबह सुपौल से यात्रा पुनः प्रारंभ होगी।

संविधान बचाने निकले हैं,
आओ हमारे साथ चलो !! pic.twitter.com/2ewmWrqT9O

— Kanhaiya Kumar (@kanhaiyakumar) March 27, 2025

Talking to reporters, Kumar launched a veiled attack on the ruling BJP-led NDA in Bihar, saying, “This government is unable to give jobs. Every competitive exam is marred by question paper leaks or ends in litigation in court because of other irregularities. Those who got employed recently, like government teachers, are being deprived of pension benefits that their seniors enjoy.”

Also read: Untouchable wall, child marriages and more: The 14,000 complaints against Tamil Nadu’s Chidambaram Nataraja Temple

The row

The dispute has caused a rift between the BJP and Congress, with the grand-old party accusing opponents of encouraging untouchability and the saffron party saying it is a rejection of Kumar’s ideas.

Kumar refrained from commenting on the matter; however, the grand old party spokesperson Gyan Ranjan Gupta told The Indian Express: “We want to know if only RSS and BJP supporters are pious people and the rest are untouchable.”

“The act has disrespected the descendants of Lord Parshuram. Have we entered a new phase of ultra-Sanskritisation in which non-BJP parties and supporters will be treated as untouchables?”

The saffron party spokesperson Asit Nath Tiwari, however, said, “In the first place, we should first verify the identity of those who washed the temple after Kanhaiya Kumar’s visit. And if a temple is washed after the Congress leader’s visit, it shows the kind of rejection towards Kanhaiya Kumar’s brand of politics.”

Also read: Explained: Why Karnataka is launching an untouchability eradication scheme in 2022

The problem

According to a resident of the Bangaon village, people from all castes and backgrounds are typically allowed in the temple.

“It could be the work of some miscreants,” the elderly resident said.

According to the men who cleaned the temple, Kanhaiya Kumar has already been charged with treason. The charges against him have not yet been lifted. In addition, he has consistently made contentious remarks about religious and national matters.

“Kanhaiya Kumar is accused of treason. He has made many controversial statements against the country and Hindu religion. In such a situation, we do not accept him. Therefore, wherever he came, those places are being purified by cleaning them with Gangajal. We will continue to oppose him in the future as well,” ETV Bharat quoted Ward Councilor Representative, Amit Chaudhary.

Also read: Why untouchability makes Tamil Nadu the most lopsided state

Similar controversy

Last year, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav had alleged that a temple was washed after he visited the Gauri Shankar Mahadev temple in Kannuaj.

A video of the purifying ceremony went viral on social media, and the episode bolstered the SP’s efforts to create a diverse voter base in the constituency.

Yadav returned to Kannauj to reclaim an old family bastion – his father Mulayam Singh Yadav had nurtured the constituency for years.

With inputs from agencies