bidi-bihar-remark-by-congress-stirs-political-storm

On Friday, a political controversy erupted when the Kerala unit of the Congress party posted a tweet that drew a parallel between Bihar and bidis. The tweet, which has since been deleted, was intended to criticise the BJP over recent Goods and Services Tax (GST) reforms but was widely seen as an insult to the state of Bihar.

The controversial post read, "Bidis and Bihar start with B. Cannot be considered sin anymore."

This comment was accompanied by a chart detailing new GST rates. The chart showed that the tax on cigars and cigarettes was increased from 28pc to 40pc, and the tax on tobacco from 28pc to 40pc. In contrast, the levy on bidis was reduced from 28pc to 18pc, effectively removing it from the 'sin goods' category, which attracts the highest GST rates.

 

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The tweet provoked a strong backlash from the BJP and its ally, the JD(U), who accused the Congress of insulting the people of Bihar, a state that is scheduled to hold assembly elections before November.

Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary reacted strongly, calling the tweet an “insult to the entire state.” He wrote, "First, the insult to the revered mother of our honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, and now the insult to the entire Bihar. This is the true character of the Congress, which is repeatedly being exposed before the country."

 

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BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla accused the Congress of "crossing all limits" and questioned whether RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, an ally of the Congress, endorsed the remarks. "Congress crosses the line again. After abusing PM Narendra Modi ji, mother now compares Bihar with Bidi! Does Tejaswi Yadav endorse this?" Poonawalla asked. He further alleged, "From Revanth Reddy to DMK to Congress, their hatred for Bihar is evident."

The remark also drew sharp criticism from JD(U) leader Sanjay Kumar Jha, who described it as “an extremely shameful act by the Congress.” In his response, Jha wrote, "B doesn’t just mean beedi, it also means Buddhi, which you lack! B also means budget, which irritates you whenever Bihar receives special assistance."

The Congress party has not yet issued an official response to the controversy. The deleted tweet has provided the BJP and its allies with new material for their campaign ahead of the crucial assembly elections, allowing them to frame the issue as one of regional pride and respect.

 

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