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.

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.

[With TOI inputs]