A row erupted on Monday after Bihar Chief minister Nitish Kumar entered the Vishnupad temple along with his Muslim minister Mohammad Israil Mansuri in Gaya.
Mansuri, who holds the portfolio of Information and Technology in the Bihar government, entered the temple Sanctorum along with the Chief Minister.
The entry of a Muslim into the Vishnupad temple stoked emotions as many people took to social media to criticise the Bihar CM.
Talking about the latest controversy that hit the Nitish Kumar government in recent times, Mansuri said, “It is just a coincidence that I entered the sanctum sanctorum of Vishnupad temple with Chief minister Nitish Kumar.”
However, the priests at the temple are not bemused. They pointed out that it is written at the entrance of the temple that the entry of a non-Hindu is prohibited. “Despite this, it was done. Now the temple committee will investigate this matter,” the angry priests said.
Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) took the opportunity to hit back at its former alliance partner – Janata Dal (United). The BJP accused Kumar’s JD(U) of hurting the religious sentiments of people.
Raising questions on the entry of a non-Hindu person into the temple, BJP MLA Haribhushan Thakur Bachaul raised questions on the entry of non-Hindu person into the temple and said, “When it is written in the temple that the entry of a non-Hindu is prohibited, then why was it done? Nitish Kumar has hurt the sentiments of Hindus.”
On August 9, Kumar snapped ties with the BJP after five years and once again joined hands with the RJD-led Mahagatbandhan, which was formed in 2015. Interestingly, Kumar snapped ties with the Mahagatbandhan in 2017 and joined hands with the BJP after a gap of four years.
After Kumar left them once again, to join the Mahagatbandhan, the BJP upped the ante against its former ally on several issues.