Patna: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has escalated its political offensive against Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad and his son Tejashwi Yadav, accusing them of insulting Bhimrao Ambedkar. Posters demanding a public apology were put up across Patna on Monday, criticising the RJD leaders for not responding to a controversy that has now been simmering for a week.
The posters, which include a QR code linking to further information, ask: “Seven days have passed. When will Lalu and Tejashwi apologise?” The BJP says the posters reflect the “pain and public anger” of the Dalit community. The row stems from a viral video showing Ambedkar’s image placed near Lalu’s feet during a public event.
Danish Iqbal, BJP’s media in-charge, said, “This is not just political insensitivity. It’s an open attack on the dignity of the Dalit community. The RJD must now choose between its pursuit of power and respect for the Constitution’s architect.”
The BJP has instructed its spokespersons to keep up pressure, calling it part of a broader electoral strategy in the lead-up to the 2025 Bihar assembly elections. BJP spokesperson Neeraj Kumar alleged that RJD’s repeated disregard for Ambedkar—placing his photo near feet or on garbage heaps—exposes the party’s “real face” and questioned the silence of allies like Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav.
“This isn’t social justice. This is hypocrisy,” Neeraj added. “Lalu Prasad must apologise.”
The RJD has yet to issue a response.
