In a recent incident that has stirred up controversy, Bihar’s Education Minister, Chandra Shekhar, equated the revered Hindu religious text, Ramcharitmanas, to the deadly poison, potassium cyanide. This statement, made during a Hindi Diwas event on September 14, has incited strong reactions.
Chandra Shekhar stated, “If you serve fifty-five kinds of dishes and mix potassium cyanide into it, would you eat it? Same is the case with scriptures of Hinduism.”
He further noted that numerous authors, including Baba Nagarjun and Lohia, have also criticized Ramcharitmanas. “My objection to Ramcharitmanas is firm, and it will persist throughout my life. Even RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat has commented on it,” he emphasized.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) swiftly reacted to these comments, directing criticism at Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. BJP spokesperson Neeraj Kumar remarked, “Minister Chandra Shekhar is continuously giving controversial statements on Ramcharitmanas. Is Nitish Kumar not hearing this? Nitish Kumar is continuously insulting Sanatana.” He even suggested that Chandra Shekhar should consider a change in religion if he takes issue with the text.
This isn’t the first instance of Chandra Shekhar’s contentious remarks concerning Ramcharitmanas. In January, he claimed that the text “spreads hatred in society,” asserting that it promotes division among communities and discriminates against certain groups.
This latest incident has reignited debates about the boundaries of freedom of expression and the sensitivity of religious sentiments in India. It remains to be seen how this controversy will unfold and whether it will have any political repercussions in the state of Bihar.
