The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) has criticised Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Rai over an alleged fish feast at a Nishad community event in Ayodhya during the holy month of Sawan, calling the episode an “insensitivity” towards Sanatan traditions.

The controversy erupted after a purported video showing fish being cooked at the community event surfaced. Rai had visited the Hanumangarhi temple and the Ram Temple in Ayodhya before travelling to Tarun, around 30 km away, where the Nishad community meeting was held on Sunday.

Rai recited the Hanuman Chalisa and offered prayers at Hanumangarhi before visiting the Ram Temple. The Congress leader has denied allegations that he took part in the feast and challenged Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to provide evidence.

VHP questions Congress over fish feast in Ayodhya

VHP national spokesperson Vinod Bansal said organising a fish feast during a Congress political event in Ayodhya, after temple visits, showed a lack of sensitivity towards religious sentiments.

“Ayodhya is not merely a city; it is the abode of faith for millions of Hindus and the birthplace of Lord Shri Ram. In a sacred month like Sawan, organizing a fish feast during a Congress political event in Ayodhya after temple darshan is a clear example of insensitivity toward the sentiments of Sanatana Dharma,” Bansal said in a post on X.

He added that while people have freedom over their food choices, the “propriety of place, time and faith” also carries meaning.

Bansal also criticised attempts to invoke Nishadraj in connection with the event. He said the relationship between Nishadraj and Lord Ram represented devotion, surrender and affection and should not be used to justify a fish feast.

The VHP spokesperson asked the Congress to clarify whether it respects the religious sensitivity and sanctity associated with Ayodhya or invokes Lord Ram only for electoral politics.

“Ram-Ram on one hand, and in the same city of faith, a fish feast during Sawan on the other—this is not faith, but a display of opportunistic politics and duplicity,” Bansal said.

He further accused the Congress of visiting temples for political optics while taking positions that, according to him, contradict religious sentiments.

The remarks come amid a political exchange over the alleged fish feast, with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath accusing Ajay Rai of participating in it and Rai challenging the allegation.

The controversy has brought the Congress leader's Ayodhya temple visits and the Nishad community event into the centre of a political row during Sawan.

With PTI inputs