'Eat fish, pig or horse, but...': Rajnath Singh's veiled dig at Tejashwi Yadav

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday slammed Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav for allegedly consuming fish during Navratri and posting a video of the same on social media.

Addressing an election rally in Bihar's Jamui district, Singh took a swipe at Lalu Prasad's apparent heir without taking his name and referred to a "display of enjoying a meal of fried fish during Navratri, perhaps hoping that the sight will be enjoyed by people of other faiths".

"You may eat anything. A fish, a pig or a horse or an elephant. But why did you hurt people's sensibilities by making a show of your act at a time when people are observing austerities," the senior BJP leader said.

The remarks came days after Tejashwi Yadav released a video of him enjoying a quick bite of fish fry in a chopper with an ex-Bihar minister.

Notably, the video was shared by Tejashwi Yadav a day before Navratri and soon after it created a furore on social media, he claimed that the footage was shot before the week-long festivities started and he "succeeded in exposing the low IQ" of his critics.

Several BJP stalwarts, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, have accused opposition leaders of demonstrating a 'Mughal mindset' and "teasing" the people of the country by consuming non-vegetarian food during Navratri.

Without naming anyone, PM Modi said individuals have the freedom to choose their dietary preferences, but the opposition leaders' intention behind their actions matter significantly.

"The law does not stop anyone from eating anything, and neither does Modi. All are free to have vegetarian and non-vegetarian food whenever they want but the motive of these leaders was different." PM Modi said while addressing a poll rally in Udhampur.

"The Mughals used to get satisfaction by vandalising temples, not by defeating kings. They used to derive pleasure out of it. Likewise, they (INDIA bloc leaders) tease the people of the country by releasing such videos in the month of Sawan and trying to consolidate their vote banks," he added.