Bihar Erupts: Congress Bidi GST Post Ignites Fury, Accused of 'Insulting' the State

A social media post by a Congress unit, advocating for the removal of Goods and Services Tax (GST) on bidis, has plunged the party into a blazing political controversy, drawing fierce condemnation from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Bihar. The contentious graphic accompanying the post allegedly contained a derogatory term, igniting a firestorm of accusations that the Congress had 'insulted' the proud people of Bihar.

The storm brewed when the Bihar Congress Social Media Coordinator’s official X (formerly Twitter) handle shared a visual plea demanding the abolition of GST on bidis.

While the core message focused on the economic plight of bidi workers, it was the alleged inclusion of the term “bimaru” – often used to describe economically backward states – within the graphic that sent political temperatures soaring. Though the post didn't explicitly link the term to Bihar, BJP leaders were quick to connect the dots, framing it as a direct affront to the state’s dignity.

BJP leaders wasted no time in unleashing a scathing attack.

Sushil Kumar Modi, a prominent BJP figure and former Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar, lambasted the Congress, asserting that the party had deliberately 'insulted' the state. He highlighted the fact that Bihar has a substantial population of bidi consumers and workers, questioning whether the Congress intended to label them all as 'bimaru'.

Modi accused the Congress of a consistent pattern of disrespect towards Bihar, referencing previous instances he claimed showed the party’s disdain for the state’s identity and people.

Echoing the sentiment, Bihar BJP chief Samrat Choudhary slammed the Congress, accusing them of repeatedly 'humiliating' Bihar.

He pointed to what he termed a 'disgusting' mindset within the Congress, urging the people of Bihar to recognize and resist such alleged denigration. Choudhary’s fiery remarks amplified the narrative that the Congress was out of touch and disrespectful of regional sentiments.

In response to the escalating backlash, the Congress unit attempted to douse the flames.

They clarified that the term “bimaru” was intended to refer to the BJP's 'sick mindset' and not the state of Bihar itself. They maintained that the core purpose of the post was to champion the cause of impoverished bidi workers who are struggling under the burden of GST. Furthermore, the Congress unit claimed that the graphic had been edited and doctored by rival parties to deliberately create mischief and malign their image.

Despite the clarification and the subsequent deletion of the controversial post, the political slugfest continued unabated.

The BJP seized the opportunity to link this incident with past controversies, such as Rahul Gandhi's alleged 'beggar' remark concerning Bihar during a foreign tour. The episode underscores the deep sensitivities surrounding regional identity, economic grievances, and the potent, often volatile, role of social media in India’s political landscape, where a single post can trigger a full-blown national debate.