AISA chief Neha Bora, who emerged as a prominent face during protests in Delhi, has sparked a major controversy with her remarks on temple priests in a video that has now gone viral.
In her video, Bora talked about safety on Brahmin women inside the temple premises, saying priests there rape them. She alleged that women require protection from Brahminical system. Her remark drew widespread criticism from the ruling BJP and Shiv Sena UBT leader Priyanka Chaturvedi.
BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari said that Bora draws inspiration from Rahul Gandhi, recalling the Lok Sabha LoP's earlier statement that girls are molested in Hindu temples. While speaking to news agency ANI, Bhandari slammed Bora for her earlier remarks where she talked about the Bangladesh unrest inspirational for anti-govt protests around the world.
"This reveals the anti-Hindu mindset prevalent within Rahul Gandhi’s entire ecosystem. Neha Bora draws inspiration from Rahul Gandhi—who once claimed that girls are molested inside temples—and she is also influenced by the Islamists in Bangladesh... It is clear that the objective of Rahul Gandhi's entire ecosystem was never to engage in democratic protest. Their true intent is anarchy and hatred toward Hindus; they remain silent regarding terror-accused individuals like Sharjeel Imam... They have previously compared Hindus to the Taliban. They even labeled the 26/11 terror attacks an "RSS conspiracy," Bhandari said.
Shiv Sena UBT leader and former Rajya Sabha MP Priyanka Chaturvedi also reacted to Bora's statement, calling it 'deeply unfortunate'. She noted that while the video may be older, she argued that the underlying mindset was reflected in the statements.
"It is highly unfortunate. While I believe this may be an old video, it reveals a mindset that asserts rapes happen in temples, are committed by priests, and that Brahmin women are unsafe. I generally avoid focusing on caste, but as a Brahmin woman myself, I must ask: is it appropriate to use such derogatory language? I have always maintained that this kind of radical thinking, whether from the Left or the Right, is harmful to the nation," she said.
Objecting to sweeping categorisation by Bora, Chaturvei said, "I would like to sit down with Neha Bora and explain that not everything should be viewed through the lens of caste or religion. She is young, talented, bright, and smart, with the drive to fight for a cause; she ought to use her intellect more constructively."