Tejashwi Yadav Slammed for 'Eating Fish During Navratri'. He Fact-Checks Viral Video with 'IQ Test'

Bihar’s former deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav on Wednesday claimed that he took an “IQ test” of BJP leaders hours after some politicians of the saffron party slammed him for “calling himself a son of Sanatan but not accepting its values”.

The controversy began after a video of Tejashwi having fish went viral on social media. “Today, Mukesh ji has brought fish for lunch. It’s very delicious and has a single bone. Along with this, we have roti, salt, onion and green chilli. This is our only 10-15 minute break during the day as we are busy with the election campaign all day long,” the ex-deputy CM said in the clip.

RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav’s son then asks Mukesh Sahani to tell viewers what fish he has brought. “This fish is found in Mithilanchal, especially in the Kosi region. It’s called Chechra,” Sahni added.

Sahani, a former Bihar minister, recently joined his Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) with the Mahagathbandhan alliance in the state, led by Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD).

As the clip began being widely circulated, Bihar deputy CM Vijay Sinha said, “A few people show themselves as a son of Sanatan but can’t accept the values of Sanatan. I have no objection to food habits, but what you want to show by posting a video of eating fish in Navratri, is the politics of appeasement. One should feel proud of one’s religion, values, nation and society but demeaning them isn’t good. Secularism doesn’t mean insulting your own religion. PM Modi has clearly said ‘ab tushtikaran ki nahi, santushtikaran ki rajneeti hogi’.”

Reacting to the controversy, Tejashwi later said, “One thing that all should be clear about, from the last three-four days, I am continuously moving around with Mukesh Sahni. I posted it there because I wanted to take an IQ test of BJP leaders. I have discussed the date that is of April 8 in the video. They don’t have the knowledge and they never talk about issues like unemployment, migration and poverty.. This is the test so that the people could know the reality of the people of BJP…”

In 2022, after Bihar assembly elections, supporters of Tejashwi were seen bringing fish for him as “good luck charm”.

According to reports, the RJD leader’s supporters flocked to his Patna residence from Hajipur and were seen showing off a giant fish.

Speaking to media persons, an RJD supporter from Samastipur district, who had brought a fish, said that the fish brings good luck. He said that all Tejashwi needed to do was take a look at the fish and his luck would change.

In the video, the giant fish seemed to wriggle out of the supporters’ hands, even as he spoke to the camera, causing much levity on social media.