RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav has countered Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan, also known as Lalan, for allegedly hosting a 'mutton party'. This comes after Yadav faced criticism from the ruling NDA for consuming non-vegetarian food during Navratra and Saawan.

The alleged feast took place in Lakhisarai district, which falls under the Munger Lok Sabha constituency represented by Lalan, a former national president of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's JD(U).

Tejashwi Yadav, in a statement to PTI Video, said, "We have been called anti-Sanatan by them". He further added, "I hope Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his visit to Motihari tomorrow, will be full of appreciation for Lalan". This remark is seen as a sarcastic reference to previous controversies surrounding non-vegetarian feasts involving opposition leaders.

In the past, the Congress-RJD alliance was targeted by the BJP-led coalition for a mutton feast during Sawaan hosted by RJD president Lalu Prasad, which Rahul Gandhi attended. Last year, Prime Minister Modi accused Tejashwi himself of insulting Hindus after a video surfaced showing him eating fish fry during Navratri. Yadav later clarified that the video was shot before the festival and was intended to expose the "low IQ" of his critics.

Tejashwi Yadav also took a dig at Rajiv Ranjan Singh, the Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairy, for hosting the 'mutton party' in Lakhisarai. He sarcastically suggested that the BJP would now consider it 'punya' (virtuous) that Lalan Singh is feeding mutton to his people and workers, given that he is their ally and a Union Minister. Yadav implied that the BJP would likely remain silent on the issue now, contrasting it with their previous criticisms of similar actions by opposition leaders.

These incidents highlight the sensitivity surrounding food habits and religious sentiments in Indian politics, particularly in Bihar. The BJP has often used the consumption of non-vegetarian food during Hindu festivals to target opposition leaders, accusing them of being disrespectful towards Hindu traditions.

This recent exchange between Tejashwi Yadav and Rajiv Ranjan is the latest instance of such political sparring over food-related issues. It remains to be seen how the BJP will respond to Yadav's remarks and whether Prime Minister Modi will address the issue during his visit to Motihari.