Bihar: Union Minister Giriraj Singh on Wednesday took a swipe at Congress MP Rahul Gandhi over his recent “dance for votes” remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, claiming that “the habit of dancing runs in Gandhi’s family.”

Taking a dig at Rahul Gandhi’s motorcycle ride during the ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’ in Bihar, Singh said, “The people of Bihar will give them a befitting reply. Rahul Gandhi himself was dancing on a motorcycle, and he also knows with whom he was dancing. The habit of dancing runs in Rahul Gandhi's family.”

The “motorcycle” reference was directed at Gandhi’s Voter Adhikar Yatra held in August, during which he, along with Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav, rode motorcycles to draw attention to alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar.

His comments came in response to Gandhi’s earlier criticism of Prime Minister Modi, where he accused him of being willing to “do anything for votes.”

Continuing his criticism, Singh also accused Rahul Gandhi of insulting Sanatan Dharma through his comments on Chhath Puja.

He said, “Rahul Gandhi and Congress have insulted Sanatan by making lewd comments on Chhath Puja. This is an insult to Sanatan and Hindus. Rahul Gandhi himself does not know who he is. Is he a Parsi, a Hindu or a Christian?”

What were Rahul Gandhi’s remarks?

Addressing an election rally at Muzaffarpur earlier in the day, Rahul Gandhi reiterated his “vote theft” allegations, accusing the Prime Minister of attempting to manipulate the Bihar elections.

The Congress leader stated, “He (PM Modi) just wants your vote. If you ask him to do a drama for votes, he will. You can make him do anything. If you tell Narendra Modi to dance, he will dance.”

Speaking at Darbhanga, he alleged that the BJP had “staged a drama” for the Prime Minister’s Chhath Puja observance by building a separate pond.

BJP MP Manoj Tiwari also targeted Rahul Gandhi, calling him “Pakistan’s spokesperson.”

He said, “Rahul Gandhi speaks as if he were a spokesperson for Pakistan. The language of someone who speaks as a spokesperson for India's adversaries will be like this. He insults the Indian army, insults the people. Rahul Gandhi can ask for votes with arrogance. We have no hesitation in bowing before the public. PM Narendra Modi is the ‘pradhan sevak’ of the people.”

What is the political context behind the row?

Rahul Gandhi’s remarks have triggered a political storm in poll-bound Bihar, where the Mahagathbandhan, led by the RJD and Congress, is set to contest against the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), comprising the BJP and JD(U).

The Bihar Assembly elections will be conducted in two phases on November 6 and 11, with results scheduled to be announced on November 14.

ANI inputs