Parvez Alam was accompanied by Prashant Kishor during a visit to Kapleswarnath Mahadev temple
MADHUBANI – A controversy has erupted in Madhubani district after Jan Suraaj Party (JSP) founder Prashant Kishor visited the Kapleswarnath Mahadev temple along with the party’s Muslim candidate, Parvez Alam, ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections.
According to sources, Kishor and Alam entered the sanctum sanctorum of the temple on Tuesday evening to offer prayers to Lord Shiva. Soon after their departure, temple priests reportedly performed a ritual cleansing of the sanctum using Panch Gavya—a mixture of milk, curd, ghee, cow urine, and cow dung—along with Ganga water, claiming it was necessary to “purify” the temple.
Priest Shravan Kumar told reporters, “We were informed about Kishor’s visit in advance and had made all the arrangements for the puja. He came around 7:30 pm and performed the puja. I later found out that one of them was a Muslim.” He added, “If Kishor really wanted to promote communal harmony, he should perform Rudra Abhishek in a mosque.”
Reports indicate that the purification ritual was carried out after some locals objected to a Muslim entering the sanctum sanctorum, reflecting deep-seated prejudices. The incident has raised concerns among community leaders and election observers about religious intolerance in the region.
Parvez Alam, contesting from Benipatti assembly constituency on a JSP ticket, expressed disappointment over the reaction. “I went there with respect and faith, like any devotee. Our prayers are personal and sincere. This reaction only shows a lack of understanding and respect for diversity,” he said.
Political analysts have described the incident as a reflection of the broader communal tensions influencing electoral politics in Bihar. “In a secular democracy, religion should never be a barrier to participation in public life or political representation,” said local political commentator Afsar Khan.
Many residents have also voiced support for communal harmony. Local social worker Sana Mirza commented, “Parvez Alam’s visit was peaceful and respectful. It’s disheartening that people reduced an act of prayer to a question of religious purity. Such attitudes divide our society unnecessarily.”
The Jan Suraaj Party has defended the visit, stressing the need to focus on public issues rather than communal differences. “Our candidates, regardless of religion, work for the people’s welfare. Politics should unite, not divide,” a party spokesperson said.
This incident adds to a string of controversies in Bihar, where religious identities often intersect with politics. It highlights the challenges faced by Indian Muslims participating in public life and raises questions about the tolerance and secular values in local communities.
