PM Modi slams Congress-RJD for mocking Chhath Puja as "drama," announcing efforts for UNESCO recognition

In the vibrant heart of Muzaffarpur, where the air still hummed with the echoes of Chhath Puja's dawn arghya just days prior, PM Narendra Modi ignited a political powder keg today, during a massive election rally. Just one day after Rahul Gandhi's pointed dig at the NDA's Yamuna cleanup as mere "drama" to woo voters, Modi with a fierce counterattack, accusing the Congress-RJD alliance of shamelessly mocking Chhathi Maiyya. Modi thundered, he proudly unveiled his government's push to nominate Chhath Mahaparva for UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list, framing it as a testament to Bihar's unyielding spirit of devotion, where women stand knee-deep in rivers after grueling fasts, embodying equality and maternal grace that no political ploy can diminish.Modi's broadside extended far beyond the festival slight, painting the Congress-RJD opposition in stark, damning strokes as architects of Bihar's darkest chapters.

He branded their legacy evoking the infamous Jungle Raj era that left scars of violence and stagnation across the state. Rallying the sea of supporters with calls to punish such people, Modi contrasted this grim history with the NDA's vision of a resurgent Bihar—one where cultural pride blooms globally, from spreading the sweet Bhojpuri tongue to every corner of the world, to delivering tangible development that lifts families out of poverty. RJD and Congress can never make Bihar developed, he declared, his voice rising like the festival's rising sun, urging voters to reject decades of betrayal and false promises in favor of a future rooted in heritage and progress. As the rally's fervor spilled into the streets, this verbal clash over Chhath crystallized the high-stakes theater of Bihar's looming assembly elections, where faith and folklore become frontline weapons in the battle for ballots.

Rahul Gandhi's critique the previous day had accused Modi of vote-chasing theatrics over real action, but Modi's riposte transformed personal piety into a potent rallying cry, positioning the NDA as the true custodians of Bihar's soul against an alliance seen as culturally tone-deaf and developmentally derelict. With polls on the horizon, this exchange isn't just rhetoric—it's a seismic shift, reminding Bihar that their deepest devotions deserve defense, not mockery, and that the path to power now winds through the very ghats where Chhath Puja's faithful once prayed for prosperity. In a state where politics pulses with puja's rhythm, Modi's message lands as both shield and sword, vowing to etch Chhath's glory into history while etching out opposition's overreach.