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HomeNews ReportsShahzad Poonawalla did not insult Maithil Brahmin community by saying "Jha2", if you think...

Shahzad Poonawalla did not insult Maithil Brahmin community by saying “Jha2”, if you think otherwise then blame AAP’s Rituraj Jha

After Rituraj Govind Jha deliberately mispronounced Poonawalla's last name calling him "Chunawala", the BJP leader said that he could also utter similar things and refer to Rituraj as "Jha2" and Sanjay Jha as "Jha1"

Delhi’s roads are in terrible condition, and people there are having trouble finding clean drinking water. The power outage is another problem. The issues of water, roads, and electricity could be at the forefront of the next Delhi assembly election. However, the conversation has turned into a litany of accusations and rebuttals. Now, the attention is on disparaging statements made about Maithil Brahmins, and Shahzad Poonawalla, the national spokesperson for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been linked to this controversy. 

It all started after a debate on a TV show of “Republic Bharat” where Poonawalla was joined by Rituraj Govind Jha, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA from Kirari. Notably, the latter has not been granted a ticket for the upcoming Delhi assembly, instead, Anil Jha who recently switched from the saffron party has been picked as the candidate. At first, Rituraj deliberately mispronounced Poonawalla’s last name during the live conversation, calling him “Chunawala” after which the BJP leader warned that he could also utter similar things and refer to Rituraj as “Jha2” and Sanjay Jha as “Jha1,” however, he didn’t want to pass such comments.

It is evident that neither Maithil Brahmins nor anyone with the last name Jha was the target of any remarks made by Poonawalla. He only stated “Jha2” in response to Rituraj’s “Chunawala.” Moreover, the term ‘Jha2’ is not new for anyone with the last name ‘Jha’ and regularly uses social media as being referred to as ‘Jha2’ is a common occurrence. I know this from personal experience. Such comments could be made by someone who dislikes you or is frustrated by your public opposition to an ideology or viewpoint and cannot counter you otherwise. Even though I have been at the receiving end of such remarks, I do not believe that the person harbours hostility towards the community to which I belong.

If one interprets this comment as a manifestation of hatred directed at an entire group, then Rituraj of the Aam Aadmi Party is the main perpetrator of inciting hatred against lower caste Muslims. Nevertheless, the term ‘Jha2’ has become a major issue in the AAP’s political rhetoric. Short videos of Poonawalla using “Jha2” have gone viral on social media, but the background of the conversation that preceded it has not been added to the footage. It’s obvious that the party wanted to fabricate a narrative that would make Maithil Brahmins believe the BJP leader was demeaning them.

Besides the AAP supporters, this narrative has acquired popularity among people who are angry with the BJP for supposedly ignoring the Maithil Brahmins in the Delhi assembly elections. People who have previously backed the latter also share this sentiment. However, the right way to react to this is not to fall prey to fake stories and propagate them further. The national spokesperson for a party such as the BJP should have definitely been more careful with his language. However, it is unfair to assume that the BJP is solely responsible for upholding morality, dignity, and restraint in a political landscape where these qualities are frequently disregarded and when a representative of a devious individual like Arvind Kejriwal makes fun of your last name.

Given the circumstances, it is imperative that you address Rituraj, who is to blame for this scenario, if you believe that you have been abused because you are a Maithili with the last name Jha. Merely focusing on Poonawalla and ignoring Rituraj’s role demonstrates a standard Maithil approach of evading responsibility for our own actions while exaggerating the shortcomings of others.

The fact that neither Rituraj nor AAP can legitimately represent Mithila, Maithil, or Maithil Brahmins should not be overlooked. The BJP, which has been instrumental in ensuring Maithili’s presence in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution and has presided over the issuance of the Constitution in Maithili, is the rightful representative. Additionally, the bridge that connects the two sections of Mithila was constructed during their government. Hence, AAP’s attempts to drive a wedge between the BJP and Maithil community could only result in more misery and distress for you.

Read the report in Hindi here.

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