Uniting Hindus: Union Minister Giriraj Singh To Embark On 'Hindu Swabhiman Yatra' From Bihar's Seemanchal Region

Union Minister Giriraj Singh is set to embark on the ‘Hindu Swabhiman Yatra’ from 18 October. The yatra is aimed at uniting Hindus across caste lines and raising awareness about religious extremism. 

The first phase of the yatra will kick off in Bhagalpur, where Singh will lead a ceremonial havan and puja at the Budhanath Temple.

The yatra will proceed to Katihar on 19 October, then to Purnia on 20 October, Araria on 21 October, and will conclude in Kishanganj on 22 October.

All these places are part of the Muslim-dominated Seemanchal region of Bihar.

The journey will later continue across other districts of Bihar, including Saharsa, Madhepura, Khagaria, Begusarai, and Darbhanga, as well as major cities like Patna, Nalanda, Gaya, and Aurangabad, in subsequent phases.

The yatra is expected to expand beyond Bihar, with plans to cover over 400 districts across India, including key states like Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.

The focus of the yatra is to build solidarity among Hindus to prevent any division based on caste. It is in response to what Singh sees as a growing threat to Hindus, citing examples from countries like Bangladesh and Pakistan.

Rastriya Janata Dal (RJD) spokesperson Mritunjay Tiwari argued that the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) push for Hindu unity is a distraction from its governance failures. Congress leaders have echoed these concerns.  

"They do not want to organise Hindus in Bihar but want a fight between Hindus and Muslims. They are travelling only for vote bank. They do not want to organise a yatra for inflation, development, and jobs in Bihar, but their focus is on riots," Tiwari said.

A senior Congress leader, Gyan Ranjan, called the yatra "an attempt to divide society on religious lines for political gain" and urged the government to focus on economic issues rather than inflaming communal tensions.

Despite the backlash, Singh remains committed to the Hindu Swabhiman Yatra. He has accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of trying to divide Hindus along caste lines while securing a unified Muslim vote. So he sees the BJP as the true protector of Hindu interests.

Singh pointed to the persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh and Pakistan as examples of what could happen in India if the Hindu community remains divided.