BJP's Sanjay Saraogi slams Congress over Bihar, Lord Ram remarks
Synopsis
Congress's UP in-charge Rajendra Pal Gautam called Biharis 'poor people who don't know anything' — and the BJP has pounced. Bihar BJP chief Sanjay Saraogi's sharp rebuttal invokes Chanakya, Buddha, and Lord Ram, framing the remark not just as a political gaffe but as a window into Congress's alleged feudal contempt for Bihar and Hindu sentiment.
Key Takeaways
BJP Bihar State President Sanjay Saraogi condemned Congress leader Rajendra Pal Gautam's remarks on 7 November .
Gautam allegedly said, 'These poor Biharis do not know anything.
They simply read out the scripts handed to them,' in response to Nitin Nabin's interview.
Saraogi called labelling Biharis as 'incompetent' an insult to millions of citizens, including farmers, youth, and labourers.
Separate criticism was directed at Congress leaders over alleged derogatory comments about Lord Shri Ram , described as an affront to Hindu faith .
The BJP has demanded a public apology from senior Congress leaders to the people of Bihar and to devotees of Lord Ram nationwide.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Bihar State President Sanjay Saraogi on Saturday, 7 November strongly condemned remarks by Congress party's Uttar Pradesh in-charge Rajendra Pal Gautam, who allegedly called Biharis 'poor' and ignorant, and made what Saraogi described as derogatory comments about Lord Shri Ram. The BJP leader demanded a public apology from senior Congress leadership to the people of Bihar and to millions of devotees across the country.
What Was Said
Gautam's remarks came in response to an interview given by Nitin Nabin, who accused Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi of being 'used as an instrument to destabilise the country' and alleged the Congress leader was acting as part of a 'foreign toolkit'. Reacting to Nabin's comments, Gautam reportedly said, 'These poor Biharis do not know anything. They simply read out the scripts handed to them.'
The remark triggered sharp political backlash in Bihar, with the BJP framing it as evidence of what it called Congress's entrenched contempt for the state and its people.
Saraogi's Rebuttal
Saraogi, in a strongly worded statement, said the language used by Congress leaders exposed their 'political upbringing, cultural outlook and underlying arrogant attitude towards Bihar.' He emphasised Bihar's civilisational legacy, citing it as the land of Chanakya, Aryabhata, Lord Mahavira, Lord Buddha, and Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan.
'Labelling the people of Bihar as incompetent is not a personal slight but an insult to millions of hardworking citizens, including the state's youth, farmers, labourers and talented professionals,' Saraogi asserted. He added that Bihar's youth today bring pride to the state 'both within the country and abroad through their talent, hard work and intellect.'
Lord Ram Remarks Draw Separate Fire
Beyond the Bihar slight, Saraogi separately criticised what he described as offensive comments by Congress leaders about Lord Shri Ram, calling them 'an affront to the faith of millions of devotees and to consciousness, moral integrity and ideals.' He said the use of derogatory language about Lord Ram 'reveals the Congress party's negative attitude towards Hindu faith and Indian culture.'
The BJP leader questioned whether 'insulting Bihar and hurting the faith associated with Lord Ram had now become part of the Congress party's political culture.'
BJP's Demand and Political Context
Saraogi demanded that senior Congress leaders publicly clarify their position on Gautam's remarks and offer a formal apology. 'Bihar is not dependent on anyone's mercy or benevolence. The state's identity is defined by its talent, hard work, self-respect and glorious heritage,' he said.
This comes amid ongoing political tensions in Bihar ahead of an election cycle, with both the BJP and Congress seeking to consolidate support among the state's diverse electorate. The BJP has frequently positioned itself as a defender of Bihar's dignity and Hindu faith, and Saraogi's statement fits a well-established pattern of leveraging perceived Congress slights to mobilise voters in the state.
Point of View
Buddha, and JP Narayan as cultural ballast — a Congress leader's condescension plays perfectly into the narrative of an elite Delhi opposition that talks down to the electorate. What is notable is that the BJP bundled the Bihar insult with the Lord Ram remarks, widening the offence from regional identity to religious sentiment: a dual mobilisation lever. Congress has yet to respond substantively, and its silence only extends the news cycle. In a state where identity and faith are inseparable from electoral calculus, the cost of such remarks — however casually made — can be disproportionately large.
NationPress
7 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Congress leader Rajendra Pal Gautam say about Bihar?
Gautam reportedly said, 'These poor Biharis do not know anything. They simply read out the scripts handed to them.' The remark came in response to an interview by Nitin Nabin, who had accused Rahul Gandhi of being part of a 'foreign toolkit' to destabilise India.
Why did BJP's Sanjay Saraogi condemn the remarks?
BJP Bihar State President Sanjay Saraogi called Gautam's comments an insult to millions of hardworking Bihari citizens and an expression of Congress's arrogant attitude toward the state. He also condemned separate remarks by Congress leaders about Lord Ram as an affront to Hindu faith and Indian culture.
What has the BJP demanded from Congress?
The BJP has demanded that senior Congress leaders publicly clarify their stance on Gautam's remarks and offer a formal apology to the people of Bihar and to millions of Lord Ram devotees across the country.
What is the background to the controversy?
The row was triggered by an interview in which Nitin Nabin accused Rahul Gandhi of acting as part of a 'foreign toolkit' to create unrest in India. Congress UP in-charge Gautam responded by dismissing Nabin's comments and referring to Biharis in terms that BJP leaders found deeply offensive.
Why does this controversy matter politically in Bihar?
Bihar is an electorally significant state where regional pride and religious sentiment carry strong weight. The BJP has historically capitalised on perceived slights against Bihar's identity to consolidate voter support, and Saraogi's statement follows that established playbook ahead of what is a politically sensitive period in the state.
