BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad on Friday strongly criticized Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and the RJD after the Kerala Congress unit compared Bihar to a bidi in a social media post. He warned that the BJP would make it a political issue, accusing Rahul Gandhi of remaining silent instead of condemning the remark.

At a press conference in Delhi, Prasad said, “What is wrong with the Congress Party? First, they insulted the Prime Minister’s mother, and now they insult Bihar—a land of legends like Jayaprakash Narayan. Rahul Gandhi staged a drama over Special Intensive Revision (SIR) and has stooped to the lowest level for votes. How can Bihar be compared to a bidi? Shame on Congress, RJD, and the INDI alliance.”

Responding, RJD spokesperson Mrityunjay Tiwari countered by asking why the BJP remained silent when PM Modi questioned the “DNA” of CM Nitish Kumar or when Biharis were attacked in Maharashtra and Gujarat. He argued that Bihar represents knowledge, pride, and Buddha’s land, and accused the BJP of running a “fake propaganda.”

Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha also condemned the remark, calling it a “shameful insult” to the people of Bihar. He stressed that Bihar is the cradle of India’s heritage, knowledge, and religions, and said insulting Bihar was an insult to the whole country. He demanded strict action against those who demean any state or its people, terming such behavior “unconstitutional and unpatriotic.” The controversy began after Kerala Congress posted on X, “Bidis and Bihar start with B,” linking it to GST reforms that increased taxes on cigars, cigarettes, and tobacco to 40%, while reducing the tax on bidis from 28% to 18%. Following criticism, the post was deleted.