Congress Kerala's 'Bidi and Bihar' Post Ignites Nationwide Outrage, Prompting Swift Deletion and Apologies

A seemingly innocuous, yet deeply controversial, social media post by Congress Kerala has spiraled into a political firestorm, drawing widespread condemnation for its perceived insensitivity towards the state of Bihar. The post, which humorously (and offensively to many) drew a parallel between 'bidi' and 'Bihar' for both starting with the letter 'B', was swiftly withdrawn following an avalanche of criticism from across the political spectrum.

The now-deleted post, shared on the official X (formerly Twitter) handle of Congress Kerala, featured a picture of a bidi – a small, hand-rolled cigarette – accompanied by the text: "Bidi and Bihar both start with 'B'." This ill-timed and ill-conceived jab surfaced precisely as Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra was making its way through Bihar, amplifying the outrage and turning a local gaffe into a national debate.

Critics were quick to lambast the post as 'insensitive', 'condescending', and a blatant 'insult' to the people and rich cultural heritage of Bihar.

Many users and political figures highlighted Bihar's profound historical contributions, referencing its status as the birthplace of Buddhism, the land of Chanakya's wisdom, and Aryabhata's mathematical genius, questioning how a national party could stoop to such a demeaning comparison.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was among the first to launch a scathing attack.

Senior BJP leader and MP Ravi Shankar Prasad expressed profound shock and anger, stating, "This is an insult to Bihar. Rahul Gandhi is doing a Nyay Yatra and his party is insulting Bihar." He demanded a clear explanation and an apology, underscoring the gravity of the slight during a significant political campaign.

Echoing the sentiment, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Manoj Jha also called for an immediate apology from the Congress party.

"Such comments are deeply hurtful and show a lack of respect for an entire state," Jha stated, emphasizing that Bihar's dignity should not be trivialized for a fleeting social media post. Other regional parties and public figures joined the chorus, demanding accountability for the disparaging remark.

In response to the escalating backlash, Congress spokesperson Shama Mohamed quickly issued a clarification, asserting that the post was made by a "junior person" without proper authorization and was immediately removed once brought to the party's attention.

She emphasized that the Congress party holds immense respect for Bihar and its people, attempting to distance the party's official stance from the rogue post. However, the explanation did little to quell the initial fury.

The incident serves as a stark reminder of the volatile nature of social media in contemporary politics, where a single ill-considered post can trigger widespread condemnation, damage reputations, and force political parties into damage control mode.

While the post was deleted and an explanation offered, the controversy underscores the imperative for greater vigilance and sensitivity in political communications, especially when dealing with the diverse cultural fabric of a nation like India.