Akhtarul Iman, Bihar state president of AIMIM highlights public indifference and stresses that law must address offenders, not political stunts.
PATNA — The ‘India Bandh’ call by the Bihar unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday failed to gain traction, with shops and establishments remaining open as ordinary life in the state continued uninterrupted. The bandh was called to protest against a controversial incident during the voter rights march led by the Congress-headed INDIA bloc.
During the rally in Darbhanga, a young man named Mohammad Rizvi reportedly used abusive language against the late mother of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The incident sparked political outrage.
Speaking to media, Akhtarul Iman, Bihar state president of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), sharply criticised the BJP move. “The India Bandh called by the NDA-led BJP has completely failed. People of Bihar and Kishanganj did not support this bandh,” he said. “It is clear that the bandh was nothing more than a political stunt.”
He added, “In Kishanganj, shops and establishments remained open as on any regular day. Traders and locals continued with their work, showing no support for the bandh.”
On the incident involving derogatory remarks against prime minister’s mother, Akhtarul Iman stated, “Every individual’s mother deserves respect. No one should speak against any mother in such a manner.” He further emphasised that the law in Bihar, where the NDA currently governs, should take its due course. “The administration is doing its duty. The accused must be punished according to the law,” he said.
Targeting the BJP’s political motives, Iman questioned their consistency, saying, “Just a few days ago, BJP leaders used abusive language against a Congress leader. She too is someone’s mother. Why did these same people not call for a bandh then?”
He also expressed concern about the public inconvenience caused by such political shutdowns. “The law is already addressing the guilty, but a bandh only disrupts the daily lives of common people and sick mothers. This raises questions about BJP’s true intentions,” Iman added.
The failure of the bandh in Bihar highlights growing public indifference to politically motivated shutdowns, while AIMIM’s leadership continues to advocate for respect, lawfulness, and communal harmony.
