BJP minister draws anger for post linked to 1989 anti-Muslim massacre

A Bharatiya Janata Party minister in India's Assam has drawn flak for celebrating the National Democratic Alliance’s (NDA) victory in Bihar poll with a social media post that referred to the 1989 massacre of Muslims in Bhagalpur district of Bihar.

Ashok Singhal shared a photograph of cauliflower fields on X, captioned: “Bihar approves gobi farming.” The post that came within hours of the election results sparked backlash from civil society leaders and community organisations.

The phrase “gobi farming” is understood in India, particularly among Muslim communities, as a coded reference to the 1989 Bhagalpur massacre, one of the country’s most violent anti-Muslim incidents.

Critics argue that posting the remark amid post-election political tensions made it particularly provocative.

Bihar approves Gobi farming ✅ pic.twitter.com/SubrTQ0Mu5

— Ashok Singhal (@TheAshokSinghal) November 14, 2025

During the Bhagalpur violence, the Logain massacre saw 116 Muslims killed, with their bodies buried in pits and later concealed under cauliflower and cabbage saplings.

Over the years, the phrase has resurfaced on social media, often used by Hindu nationalist accounts as a veiled threat against Muslims, typically following political victories or during periods of communal unrest.

Survivors and local residents say such references reopen old wounds and evoke painful memories of the killings. Community activists condemned Singhal’s post as highly insensitive, highlighting the ongoing struggle for justice for families affected by the Bhagalpur violence.