Bihar BJP MLA seen distributing swords in Durga Puja pandals, opposition reacts

A political controversy has erupted in Bihar after BJP MLA Mithilesh Kumar was seen distributing swords to devotees at various Durga Puja pandals in his Sitamarhi constituency on Friday.
Kumar visited various pandals across Sitamarhi, handing out the Ramayana and swords, including one to a priest at the Punaura Dham temple. Kumar was also spotted transporting multiple swords in his vehicle to different locations.
When questioned about the unusual combination of religious texts and weapons, Kumar defended his actions, stating that both ‘shastra’ (weapons) and ‘shaastra’ (scriptures) are necessary for the protection of religion.
The move quickly drew criticism from the opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). RJD spokesperson Mrityunjay Tiwari condemned the BJP MLA’s actions, linking it to the ideological teachings of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
Tiwari alleged that such acts reflect the BJP’s values, stating, “This is what they teach in RSS nurseries and this is what we have warned about. They distribute swords, while we distribute pens”.
The BJP, however, downplayed the incident and said that the distribution of swords by a party MLA might have been in response to local demands.
Senior BJP leader and Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary said that the act did not reflect any broader tradition, implying that local organisations may have influenced Kumar’s actions.
“This is not a tradition, but there could have been a local demand that the MLA attempted to meet,” Chaudhary said.
Meanwhile, Janata Dal (United) national spokesperson Rajiv Ranjan referenced the tradition of ‘Shastra Pujan’ (weapons worshipping) during Dussehra, where swords are worshipped as part of the festivities.
“During Dussehra, weapons are worshipped. If the weapon is used merely as a symbol, it won’t have a sharp edge. However, if the weapon is sharpened, the police should investigate,” Ranjan said.