Manoj Jha hits back at BJP's Nitin Nabin over SIR row: back claims with evidence
Synopsis
RJD MP Manoj Jha turned the tables on BJP chief Nitin Nabin over the SIR electoral rolls row, insisting it was investigative journalism — not the Opposition — that surfaced the issue, and demanding evidence before any political allegation is made. The same press conference spiralled into sharp remarks on dog-whistle politics, RSS chief Bhagwat's New York speech, and Telangana CM Revanth Reddy's incendiary deity comments — making it one of the more combustible Opposition press moments of the week.
Key Takeaways
RJD MP Manoj Kumar Jha on Tuesday demanded that BJP President Nitin Nabin back his allegations against the Opposition over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls with evidence.
Jha clarified it was The Indian Express — not the Opposition — that investigated and reported the SIR issue with evidence.
On the Ujjain Shahi Masjid dispute, Jha accused certain political actors of 'othering' and 'demonisation' through 'dog-whistle politics'.
Jha dismissed reports of a rift in the INDIA bloc over Akhilesh Yadav 's absence from a meeting, calling it 'headline management'.
Telangana CM Revanth Reddy 's remarks — including 'BJP stole Lord Ram' and 'Shiva is the God of the poor' — have drawn a sharp BJP backlash and a measured response from Jha defending India's regional religious diversity.
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) Member of Parliament Manoj Kumar Jha on Tuesday fired back at Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Nitin Nabin over the controversy surrounding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, asserting that it was not the Opposition but an independent newspaper that had investigated and exposed the issue with evidence. Jha's remarks came in direct response to Nabin's weekend broadside accusing the Opposition of deliberately misleading the public and targeting constitutional institutions.
What Manoj Jha Said
Jha was unequivocal in his pushback. 'The Opposition did not raise the question. The Indian Express investigated it. It presented it with evidence. What should we do after that? I mean, if you want to make allegations against the Opposition as well, then make allegations with evidence. This is not appropriate,' he said.
He doubled down, adding: 'If he is making allegations against the Opposition, then he should do so with evidence.' The RJD MP's remarks drew a clear line between political point-scoring and evidence-based accountability — a distinction he argued Nabin had failed to observe.
Jha on the Ujjain Shahi Masjid Dispute
Turning to the Ujjain Shahi Masjid controversy, Jha did not mince words. 'I say it directly, any such methodology, if it is from the perspective of dog-whistle politics, is not appropriate. What are you doing? You are doing othering; you are doing demonisation,' he said.
He also took a pointed jab at Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat, referencing Bhagwat's recent speech in New York. 'I don't understand why this didn't reach Mohan Bhagwat. He gave such a good speech in New York. Did he leave it on the flight while coming back to India or at the immigration desk?' Jha remarked.
On INDIA Bloc Unity and Akhilesh Yadav's Absence
Jha also addressed questions about Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav's absence from an INDIA bloc meeting, downplaying suggestions of internal friction. 'He is not going there, but a representative is going there on his behalf. So, this is for headline management and for a few media channels. But, on the ground there is nothing like any rift,' he said.
Notably, the INDIA bloc has faced recurring questions about cohesion ahead of upcoming electoral contests, making any perceived distance between constituent parties a subject of heightened scrutiny.
Revanth Reddy's Remarks and the Deity Controversy
Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy's recent statements on deities and regional religious identity have sparked a sharp political controversy, with the BJP launching a strong attack on the Congress leader. Reddy, speaking at an event in Delhi on Monday, claimed that 'BJP stole Lord Ram' and drew a north-south cultural distinction, saying: 'We are Dravidians. People here (north) are Aryans. We are devotees of Shiva. These are devotees of Lord Ram. BJP stole Ram. It's an emotion. It's a sentiment. Why does Modi ji not say 'Har Har Mahadev'? Have BJP people ever said 'Har Har Mahadev' on a stage? They say only 'Jai Shri Ram'.'
Reddy further claimed: 'Shiva is the God of the poor, Ram is the God of the rich, and the BJP is a party of the rich.' He also predicted a nationwide agitation against the SIR, comparing it to the historic 'Simon, Go Back' movement of the freedom struggle era.
Jha, responding to Reddy's remarks, offered a measured defence rooted in India's religious pluralism. 'Without commenting on his wealth classification, if I look at it, the area I come from, in our area, Shiva and Goddess Kali are given priority. Tara is given priority. Different forms of Shakti are given priority. This has been the diversity of Hinduism, that every area, according to its own circumstances, has conceived of its deity,' he said.
'If you go further towards Bengal and Assam, you will find that the priority given to the Goddess increases further. If someone approaches this reality in a manner of hegemony, saying that these should be worshipped first and these are the most prominent, then there is a need to understand that intent,' he added.
The multi-front political skirmish — spanning electoral rolls, religious identity, and bloc solidarity — signals an intensifying Opposition-BJP confrontation as political temperatures rise heading into the next electoral cycle.
Point of View
But it sidesteps the harder question: why the Opposition has been reactive rather than proactive on the SIR issue, leaving it to the press to do the heavy lifting. The Revanth Reddy episode is a self-inflicted wound for the Congress — framing a north-south religious binary hands the BJP exactly the 'anti-Hindu' narrative it needs ahead of state elections. Meanwhile, the INDIA bloc's internal choreography — sending proxies to meetings while leaders stay away — suggests coalition management is more fragile than Jha's 'no rift' assurance implies.
NationPress
29 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls controversy?
The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is a process to update and revise electoral rolls, which has become politically contentious after a newspaper investigation raised questions about its conduct. BJP President Nitin Nabin accused the Opposition of misleading the public over the issue, while RJD MP Manoj Jha countered that it was investigative journalism, not the Opposition, that surfaced the concerns.
What did Manoj Jha say about Nitin Nabin's allegations?
Jha said Nabin's allegations against the Opposition were unfounded and demanded they be backed by evidence. He stated: 'If he is making allegations against the Opposition, then he should do so with evidence,' adding that it was The Indian Express that investigated the SIR issue and presented findings with evidence.
What did Revanth Reddy say that triggered the political controversy?
Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, at a Delhi event on Monday, claimed 'BJP stole Lord Ram,' drew a Dravidian-Aryan cultural distinction, and said 'Shiva is the God of the poor, Ram is the God of the rich, and the BJP is a party of the rich.' The remarks drew a sharp BJP attack and a nuanced response from Jha defending India's regional religious pluralism.
Is there a rift in the INDIA bloc over Akhilesh Yadav's absence?
Jha dismissed rift reports, saying a Samajwadi Party representative attended the INDIA bloc meeting on Akhilesh Yadav's behalf. He characterised media focus on the absence as 'headline management,' insisting there was 'nothing like any rift' on the ground.
What did Manoj Jha say about the Ujjain Shahi Masjid dispute?
Jha called out what he described as 'dog-whistle politics' around the Ujjain Shahi Masjid dispute, accusing those stoking the issue of 'othering' and 'demonisation.' He also questioned why RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's conciliatory New York speech had not influenced the domestic political discourse.
