Neha Bora’s temple rape remark sparks row, BJP and Congress allies slam AISA chief
New Delhi: All India Students’ Association (AISA) president Neha Bora has landed in a political controversy after an old video of her remarks about sexual assaults inside temples surfaced on Tuesday. The BJP launched a sharp attack on her, accusing her of displaying an “anti-Hindu mindset”. However, the criticism was not limited to the ruling party as Congress allies Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Samajwadi Party also objected to her statements.
Bora, who came into the spotlight during the NEET-UG protests, has been seen alongside Congress leader Rahul Gandhi at several Opposition events. Her remarks have now given the BJP fresh ammunition to target the Congress and its INDIA bloc partners.
The controversy began after BJP national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari shared an undated video in which Bora spoke about the alleged discrimination and abuse faced by women under what she described as the “Brahmanical system”.
“It is the very same system under which even Brahmin women are unsafe and fall victim to rape. Priests commit rapes inside temples. We have witnessed such instances in Unnao and Kathua,” she said.
BJP accuses Bora of insulting Hindu priests
BJP leaders criticised Bora over her remarks, arguing that she had made sweeping allegations against priests and religious institutions. Party spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia accused her of insulting Hindu priests and questioned her comments in the context of her earlier remarks about the political developments in Bangladesh.
Speaking to ANI, Bhatia said Bora had drawn inspiration from the student-led protests in Bangladesh, which eventually led to the removal of Sheikh Hasina as Prime Minister in August 2024.
He also accused her of selective criticism, claiming that she would not make similar allegations against religious functionaries from other communities. Bhandari, meanwhile, called Bora Rahul Gandhi’s “poster girl” and alleged that her remarks reflected what he described as an anti-Hindu mindset within the Congress ecosystem.
Congress allies also question her remarks
Bora’s comments also drew criticism from leaders belonging to parties that are part of the Opposition INDIA bloc.
Former Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi said making generalised statements about priests and religious institutions was unfortunate. She also objected to the reference to Brahmin women being unsafe.
Speaking to ANI, Chaturvedi said, “I have always maintained that this kind of radical thinking, whether from the Left or the Right, is harmful to the nation.”
She added that she would like to speak to Bora personally and explain why issues should not always be viewed through the lens of caste and religion. Samajwadi Party MP Rajeev Rai also criticised the remarks, saying it was inappropriate to make sweeping allegations against any community.
“Every religion has both good and bad people; we shouldn’t make such generalisations… We should avoid them,” he said.
Police complaint filed against AISA President
The controversy has also taken a legal turn with Delhi-based advocate Amita Sachdeva claiming that she had filed a complaint against Bora at the Sansad Marg Police Station.
In a post on X, Sachdeva alleged that Bora’s statements could disturb communal harmony and promote hostility between communities. “Freedom of speech is a constitutional right, not a licence to make irresponsible and inflammatory statements,” she wrote.
Who is Neha Bora?
A 29-year-old JNU PhD scholar, Bora is the national president of AISA, the student wing of CPI(ML) Liberation. She became a prominent face of the protests demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in electoral rolls.
She also participated in the CJP-led agitation at Jantar Mantar and undertook a 23-day hunger strike alongside other student activists. Bora was later seen with Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra during the Opposition’s October 12 march to the Supreme Court. Her presence at INDIA bloc events had also drawn attention to her growing association with the Congress-led Opposition.
The resurfaced video has now triggered fresh political attacks with the BJP targeting both Bora and the Congress leadership while some of the Opposition’s own allies have distanced themselves from her remarks.