No Time For Ram Temple PM Modi Slams Opposition Holiday Clips

In a pointed rally speech in poll-bound Bihar’s Saharsa, Narendra Modi sharply criticised the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Indian National Congress for their alleged dismissive attitude towards revered Hindu festivals and sacred sites and juxtaposed that with their attendance at global get-togethers and celebrations.

Modi claimed that while temples such as the one for Nishad Raj in Ayodhya, and those dedicated to Lord Valmiki and Shabari Mata, stand unvisited by opposition leaders, they are busy travelling the world and partaking in foreign cultural festivals. He cited the emergence of a viral video of Lalu Prasad Yadav celebrating Halloween with his grandchildren as evidence of what he called neglect of indigenous religious devotion.

Modi asserted: "They don’t find time to visit the Ram Temple, yet they travel all over the world." He went on to question why opposition leaders would be ashamed of bowing at the feet of Nishad Raj or visiting those temples, while seemingly placing greater importance on international festivities than festivals such as Chhath Puja which he claimed the opposition once labelled as “drama”.

The Halloween-video reference drew strong reactions: it was shared via social media by Yadav’s daughter and RJD leader Rohini Acharya, captioned simply “Happy Halloween to everyone”. Additionally, the article reminds us that earlier in the year, Yadav sparked criticism after calling the Maha Kumbh “meaningless” following a tragic stampede during the event, prompting accusations from opponents that he was belittling religious faith.

The backdrop is strategic: elections in Bihar are upcoming, with voting scheduled for November 6 and November 11, and counting on November 14. Modi’s remarks can be read as an effort to cast the opposition in a light of religious insensitivity and global distraction, thereby aligning his own and his party’s image with nationalistic cultural identity.

Whether this focus on festival-politics will shift voter sentiment or galvanise the opposition will become clear as polling draws near. For now, the remarks emphasise how religion, celebration and image continue to intertwine tightly with political strategy in India’s electoral landscape.