Prior to the highly anticipated consecration ceremony at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has stirred controversy by displaying a poster criticizing Hindu beliefs outside the residence of Lalu-Rabri and their son Tejaswi Yadav in Patna.  Attacking the Hindu faith, the poster describes temple worship as a path to mental slavery.

This controversial poster contrasts against temple worshipping describing the latter as a path towards mental slavery. On one side are images of Lalu Yadav and Rabri Devi, and on the other is a portrait of Tejashwi Yadav, the deputy chief minister. At the top of the poster are additional images of Buddha, Ashoka, Savitri Bai Phule, and other figures.

The content on the poster reads, “Temple means the path of mental slavery and school means the path of light in life. When the temple bell rings, it gives us the message that we are moving toward superstition, hypocrisy, stupidity, and ignorance, and when the school bell rings, we get the message that we are moving toward rational knowledge and scientific light. Now you have to decide which direction you should go” attributing the quotation to Savitri Bai Phule.

According to the poster, the party is organizing an event on 7th January in Rohtas to commemorate the birth anniversary of Savitri Bai Phule. It is reported that Education Minister Chandrashekhar will inaugurate the program, with the presence of Minister Anita Devi, former Union Minister Kanti Singh, and former Speaker Uday Narayan Choudhary, who are expected to be the chief guests at the event.

Allegedly, the poster criticizing temple worship has been displayed by Fateh Bahadur Singh Kushwaha, the RJD MLA representing the Dehri Assembly constituency in Rohtas district. He has consistently been making derogatory comments about Hindu Goddesses. Reports suggest that he has a track record of making objectionable remarks about Sanatan Dharma, Hindu deities, and Goddesses.

Recently, Fateh said, “It is written in your scripture that Surasati (Saraswati) is the daughter of Brahma and Brahma ji has given birth to his own daughter. The intention went wrong and he (Brahma) married her. You understand for yourself… Who is worshipped, the one with character or the one without character?”

He continued his tirade stating, “I am not saying this about character and characterless, this is what Saint Kabirdas has said. I am saying what he said. He further said that there is no statue of Saraswati ji in schools. Should be installed.” 

Notably, Maa Saraswati is called the goddess of knowledge and in Sanatan Dharma, she is worshiped in every house.

On the 27th of October, a video clip featuring Rashtriya Janata Dal MLA Fateh Bahadur Singh went viral on social media. In the video, Singh launched a peculiar tirade against the Hindu deity Maa Durga. Making contentious remarks, Fateh Bahadur Singh asserted that Lord Shiva created Maa Durga and married her, leading to widespread outrage among Hindus. Demonstrations were organized against Singh's derogatory comments on Hindu Gods. Continuing his unusual rant, Singh questioned the whereabouts of the goddess during the British atrocities. This incident occurred in Rohtas, Bihar.

Back then, he said, “Durga is an imaginary character of an imaginary story.” He also raised questions about the birth of Goddess Durga and the vermilion (Sindur) of Maa Durga. The RJD MLA asked on which ground Durga killed Mahishasura.

He had said, “Manuwadis say that Durga was created by all the gods. So, Durga is the daughter of all the gods. On the other hand, they say that Durga is the wife of Lord Shiva. But Shiva is one of the gods who created Durga. So, Shiva married his daughter Durga. And why Durga was fighting Mahishasur in the night only? Why would she go there at night?”

The opposition has launched a verbal attack against the consecration ceremony of the Ram Mandir scheduled for January 22, 2023. On December 26, Sam Pitroda, the Chairman of the Indian Overseas Congress, expressed his concern, stating that there is an excessive focus on religion with the Ram Mandir, and it poses a threat to democracy. This remark comes just weeks before the nation is poised to commemorate the inauguration and consecration ceremony of the Ram Mandir at Shri Ram Janmabhoomi in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh. Sam Pitroda, a trusted advisor and aide to Rahul Gandhi, has a history of making anti-temple comments, and this statement adds to that series.

Image source: Aaj Tak