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New Indian Express
18-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
RJD targets PM Modi over Union Minister Lalan Singh's visit to mutton party during Sawan
PATNA: Opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) on Friday took a potshot on Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Bihar's Motihari, fuelling ongoing controversy over a 'mutton party' attended by Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh during the auspicious month of 'Sawan'. Leader of Opposition in Bihar assembly Tejashwi Prasad Yadav said that PM Modi would 'honour' the leaders who held a 'mutton' party during the holy month of 'Sawan' during his visit to the state on Friday. 'The 'mutton' party has exposed the double standards of these people', he asserted. On his social media post X, Tejashwi further said, 'BJP would now say that it is 'punya' that Lalan Singh is feeding mutton to his people and workers, because he is their ally and a union minister. They won't say anything now.' He said that he hoped that PM Modi would react to 'mutton' party during his visit to Motihari. On Thursday, Union Minister Lalan Singh and Bihar Rural Development minister Ashok Choudhary attended a 'mutton' party at Suryagarha in Lakhsarai district after laying foundation stone for several development projects. Suryagarha falls under Munger Lok Sabha constituency, which he represents in the parliament. BJP had attacked Tejashwi and VIP chief Mukesh Sahani after their photographs went viral on social media eating fish during 'Navratra' last year. In addition, saffron party assailed RJD chief Lalu Prasad when he hosted a 'mutton' feast during the month of Sawan, which was also attended by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. During the 2024 Lok Sabha election campaign, PM Modi accused Tejashwi of insulting the sentiments of the Hindus by eating fish during 'Navratra'. The BJP also posted the video showing both Tejashwi and Sahani enjoying fish during election campaign. The 'mutton' feast attended by Lalan Singh and Ashok Choudhary during the month of 'Sawan' is likely to be raised during coming assembly elections in the state, due in October-November this year.
Time of India
18-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Tejashwi Yadav mocks union minister Lalan Singh over ‘mutton party' during Sawan, recalls past BJP reactions
RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav has taken a swipe at Union minister of fisheries, animal husbandry and dairy, Rajiv Ranjan Singh—commonly known as Lalan Singh—for organizing a "mutton party" in Lakhisarai, which falls under his Munger Lok Sabha constituency. Criticizing what he sees as the BJP's double standards, Tejashwi remarked, "BJP would now say that it is 'punya' that Lalan Singh is feeding mutton to his people & workers, because he is their ally & a Union minister. They won't say anything now. When PM comes here tomorrow, I hope he will speak on Lalan Singh, that he is feeding mutton in Sawan," he told PTI Video in a sarcastic tone. His comments were in reference to earlier criticism he had faced from the BJP, and even Prime Minister Narendra Modi, for similar reasons. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Select a Course Category Operations Management Degree Data Science CXO Design Thinking Cybersecurity Management Data Analytics Artificial Intelligence healthcare Product Management Technology Public Policy Project Management Others PGDM Leadership Data Science MBA others Finance Digital Marketing MCA Healthcare Skills you'll gain: Quality Management & Lean Six Sigma Analytical Tools Supply Chain Management & Strategies Service Operations Management Duration: 10 Months IIM Lucknow IIML Executive Programme in Strategic Operations Management & Supply Chain Analytics Starts on Jan 27, 2024 Get Details Bihar politics has seen such controversies before. Last year, Tejashwi himself was at the center of a storm after a video surfaced of him eating fish fry during Navratri. The clip, which was posted by Tejashwi on his own social media, led to strong backlash. However, he later clarified the timing of the video, explaining that it was shot before Navratri and shared deliberately to highlight the 'low IQ' of his critics. The issue of non-vegetarian food during religious periods has repeatedly sparked political rows in the state. Two years ago, RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav faced BJP criticism for hosting a mutton feast during the holy month of Saawan. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was also present at the event. Speaking at an election rally in Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur at the time, Prime Minister Modi had said, "They visit a criminal's house, a convict out on bail in Sawan to cook mutton. They make videos to mock people, echoing the Mughal era mentality. They aim to provoke citizens and secure their vote bank, now they'll rain bullets on me, abuse me. But it's my responsibility to show the right aspect to the country." The renewed controversy underscores how food, faith, and politics continue to collide in Bihar's charged electoral landscape. Live Events [With TOI inputs] Economic Times WhatsApp channel )
Time of India
18-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
'Mutton party' controversy returns to Bihar's political menu - The Economic Times Video
RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav hit out at Union Minister Lalan Singh for allegedly hosting a mutton feast during the holy month of Sawan, drawing parallels to past criticism he and his father faced for similar acts. Lalan Singh denied the claim, calling it a regular inauguration event where food was served to all attendees.
Indian Express
18-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Mutton on the menu, JD(U)'s Lalan Singh faces Opposition ire: ‘Classic double standards'
While Bihar politics continues to simmer over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and the law-and-order situation because of multiple cases of killings in recent weeks, the latest incident to cause an uproar is a lunch hosted by Union Minister and Janata Dal (United) leader Rajiv Ranjan Singh, where mutton was served. This has stirred a debate around food, religion and politics, with Opposition parties terming it a case of 'double standards' during the Hindu holy month of Sawan. On Wednesday, after laying the foundation stone for various government projects in Surajgarha in Lakhisarai district, the Union Minister, popularly known as Lalan Singh, and Bihar Rural Development Minister Ashok Chaudhary arranged a multi-course lunch for those who attended the event. The menu included both vegetarian options and meat dishes, including mutton. In a video filmed at the event, Lalan Singh is heard announcing from the stage, 'Bhojan bana hua hai, badhiya bhojan hai, Sawan ka bhi intezam hai … Sawan wala bhi bhojan hai aur jo Sawan mah ko nahi mante hain unke liye bhi bhojan hai (Food has been prepared for everyone, there is excellent food. There are special arrangements for the month of Sawan; Sawan-specific food is available. Those who don't observe dietary restrictions during this month, there's food for them too).' Targeting the Union Minister and the ruling NDA, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) spokesperson Mrityunjay Tiwari said, 'This is a classic case of double standards. The same people who questioned Lalu and Rahul Gandhi on dietary choices during Sawan are now hosting mutton parties. When Tejashwi Yadav's fish photo or Rahul's meal with Lalu Ji went viral, there was a hue and cry. Now the Prime Minister and NDA leaders should explain.' Tiwari was referring to the political row that erupted two years ago when RJD chief Lalu Prasad cooked Champaran mutton and served it to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. It was filmed in August 2023, during Sawan, at the Delhi residence of Lalu's daughter Misa Bharti, and the video was shared on Gandhi's social media channels. Last year, a video of RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav having fish during Navratri also caused a storm, with BJP leaders targeting him. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several BJP leaders subsequently accused the Opposition leaders of 'offending religious sentiments by eating non-vegetarian food during Savan and Navratri'. Though the JD(U) was in alliance with the RJD and part of the INDIA bloc of Opposition parties nationally when the controversy over the Lalu-Rahul video occurred, one of its MLAs said the former Bihar CM had gone a 'little crazy' after undergoing a kidney transplant. 'We made those remarks back then keeping Lalu ji's health in mind. He had undergone a kidney transplant, so we advised avoiding oily and fatty foods, as his people weren't taking proper care of his diet. We spoke as well-wishers, but they turned it into a political issue. Similarly, Tejashwi Ji was eating fish in a helicopter, and since helicopters vibrate, there was a risk the bones could get stuck, so our comment was for his well-being. At Lalan ji's party, there was no onion or garlic, and people had options of both vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes,' said JD(U) spokesperson Neeraj Kumar. Hitting out at the NDA, Lalu's another daughter Rohini Acharya wrote on X, 'Those who keep staging pretences and spreading falsehoods, who criticise others' food habits, are deceitful and cunning schemers. Their words and actions never match, they whisper poisonous incantations. They hide the true meaning of religion, and end up swallowing their own words. In reality, they are people of double standards.' Congress spokesperson Gyan Ranjan Gupta said, 'People like Lalan Singh win elections by any means necessary, including serving mutton, chicken and liquor to mislead people. They have no concrete plans for Bihar, and they have been resorting to such tactics to win votes. With rising crime and unemployment in Bihar, it shows their indifference to the people's real issues.'
Time of India
17-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Clashes In US Senate; Dems Walk Out As Cory Booker Jabs Grassley Over Trump Aide Bove's Vote
'Mutton In Sawan': Tejashwi Yadav Attacks Lalan Singh For Non-Veg Party, Dares PM Modi To Respond A fresh political row has erupted in Bihar after RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav targeted Union Minister Lalan Singh over a 'mutton party' held during Sawan in Lakhisarai. Tejashwi accused the BJP of hypocrisy, saying the party stays silent when its allies serve non-veg food in a holy month. He challenged PM Modi to comment on the JD(U) event during his Bihar visit. The controversy echoes past clashes, including a 2023 backlash against Tejashwi for posting a fish fry video during Navratri. With elections nearing, the debate over food and faith has once again returned to Bihar's political spotlight.#biharpolitics #sawancontroversy #muttonparty #tejashwiyadav #lalansingh #religiouspolitics #electionbattle #biharelections #nonvegissue #politicalnews #rjd #bjp #jdu #congress #toi #toibharat 163 views | 1 hour ago
