Tejashwi Yadav Calls Himanta Sarma ‘Chinese Version Of Yogi’, BJP Slams RJD’s ‘Racist Mentality’ – News18

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday hit out at Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav, who dubbed Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma as the “Chinese version of Yogi”, saying that such remarks reflect the ‘racist mentality’ of INDIA bloc leaders.

BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla while drawing parallels between Yadav’s comments with that of remarks made by India Overseas Congress Chairman Sam Pitroda, accused the INDIA bloc of harboring a racist mentality, suggesting that Pitroda’s influence has permeated Yadav’s mindset.

“Tejashwi Yadav labels Assam CM @himantabiswa as a “Chinese” because he is an Assamese and from the North-East! This reflects racist mentality of the INDI Alliance & it seems Sam Pitroda has taken over mindspace of Tejaswi when he makes such racist comments. Does Rahul Gandhi, Gaurav Gogoi endorse this as “Muhabbat ki Dukaan”. Will they end ties with RJD for such unconstitutional, anti Bharat Jodo, racist and hateful comments?” he said in a post on X.

The remarks came a day after the RJD leader dubbed the Assam CM as “Chinese version of Yogi” on scrapping the Namaz break in Assam assembly. Yadav accused him of seeking “cheap popularity” and alleged that the BJP aims to harass Muslims in various ways.

“In an attempt to gain cheap popularity and become the “Chinese version of Yogi”, the Chief Minister of Assam deliberately keeps doing acts that harass Muslims. The people of BJP have made Muslim brothers a soft target to spread hatred, attract the attention of Modi-Shah and polarize the society. People of all religions, except RSS, have a hand in the independence of the country. Our Muslim brothers have made sacrifices in getting the country freedom and as long as we are here, no one can harm them,” he had said on X.

BJP Leaders React

BJP leader Rajeev Chandrasekhar called Tejashwi Yadav “yet another student of Congress tutor Sam Pitroda” over his remarks on the Assam CM. “When a high school fail dynast and son of a convicted corrupt politician and Rahul’s INDI alliance partner – thinks Assam Chief Minister is “Chinese” – must be yet another student of Cong tutor @sampitroda,” the former Union Minister said in an X post.

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh also slammed the RJD leader and called him an “ignorant racist who has no information about the history and geography of our country”.

“It appears that the INDI Alliance is made up of a bunch of ignorant racists who have no information about the history & geography of our country. First, it was Sam Pitroda. Now, it’s Tejashwi Yadav who is being racist towards the people of North east. It is unfortunate that a political leader like him has resorted to calling Assam CM, Shri

@himantabiswa ji as “Chinese” just because he is from the North East,” Singh wrote in an X post.

“We are as much Indian as the rest of the country and we don’t need to prove this. However, this racism of the INDI Alliance towards the North East must be stopped once and for all,” he added.

The controversy erupted after the Assam government on Friday decided to abolish the two-hour break provided on Fridays to facilitate Muslim legislators to offer ‘namaz’. The rule will be implemented from the next session, the state’s Parliamentary Affairs Minister said.

In a post on X, Sarma said, “with the 2-hour Jumma break, @AssamAssembly has prioritised productivity and shed another vestige of colonial baggage. This practice was introduced by Muslim League’s Syed Saadulla in 1937.” “My gratitude to Hon’ble Speaker Shri @BiswajitDaimar5 dangoriya and our legislators for this historical decision,” he said.

For the last time, this break was provided on Friday, the final day of the autumn session of the assembly.

A statement from the Speaker’s office said the House used to resume proceedings after lunch on Fridays, after the Muslim members came back from ‘namaz’.