The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Bihar has called for a statewide bandh on September 4, 2025, to protest derogatory remarks made against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his late mother, Heeraben Modi, during an opposition event in Darbhanga. The five-hour shutdown, set to run from 7:00 AM to 12:00 PM, will be led by the BJP Mahila Morcha, with essential services like emergency facilities and rail operations exempted to minimize disruption to critical infrastructure. The bandh is a direct response to offensive comments allegedly made by Congress workers during the Voter Adhikar Yatra, a campaign led by INDIA bloc leaders Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav, which concluded in Patna on September 1.
Bihar BJP president Dilip Jaiswal, visibly emotional while addressing the media, condemned the remarks as an affront to all mothers, stating, “There can be no greater sin than abusing the late mother of our Prime Minister. This has brought shame to Bihar’s tradition-rich land.” Jaiswal, who broke down while watching Modi speak about the incident, announced the bandh during a joint press conference with NDA allies, emphasizing the women’s wing’s leadership in the protests to highlight the insult to womanhood. Janata Dal (United) leader Umesh Kushwaha echoed this sentiment, calling the opposition’s actions “morally and politically wrong” and criticizing their failure to apologize. “The Mahagathbandhan’s arrogance is evident. They’ve insulted our mothers and sisters, and we will retaliate through this bandh,” he declared.
The controversy stems from an incident during the Voter Adhikar Yatra in Darbhanga, where a 20-year-old Congress worker, Mohammad Rizvi alias Raja, allegedly used abusive language against Modi and his mother from the rally stage. Bihar Police arrested Rizvi, who was sent to judicial custody for 14 days, and filed FIRs against others involved in the sloganeering. The incident has sparked outrage, with NDA leaders accusing the Congress and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) of disrespecting Bihar’s cultural values. A video of the remarks, widely circulated on social media, intensified public anger and prompted the bandh call.
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Prime Minister Modi, addressing a virtual event in Bihar on September 2, expressed deep personal pain, stating, “My mother, who is no longer with us, was dragged into politics. This is an insult to all mothers and daughters of Bihar. I never imagined such a thing in this tradition-rich state.” Taking a swipe at Gandhi and Yadav, Modi called them “namdaars” (privileged elites), suggesting their privileged backgrounds prevent them from understanding the struggles of ordinary families. “For them, power is an inheritance, not a responsibility,” he added, framing the incident as a broader attack on Bihar’s values.
The bandh, expected to see widespread participation from NDA supporters, particularly women, aims to pressure the opposition into issuing a public apology. BJP leaders have vowed to make the issue a focal point in the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections, framing it as a matter of honor for the state’s mothers and sisters. Meanwhile, Congress state president Rajesh Kumar dismissed the bandh as a BJP tactic to play the “emotional card” ahead of the polls, accusing them of diverting attention from governance failures. As tensions rise, the bandh could deepen the political divide in Bihar, with both sides leveraging the controversy to rally their bases.
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