Patna, April 9 -- Bihar Sports Minister Surendra Mehta is facing backlash for distributing over 500 blankets amid soaring temperatures nearing 40degC in Ahiyapur village of his Bachhwara constituency. The drive, held on the 46th Foundation Day of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), sparked criticism on social media and from political opponents.

Sharing images of the event on Facebook, Mehta praised BJP's commitment to "Antyodaya and nation building," and said the event was to "honour people with clothes."

However, former CPI MLA Awadhesh Rai slammed the act as "a political stunt," stating, "Had he distributed these on Vajpayee ji's birthday in December, it would've made sense. In this heat, it's just absurd." He also criticized the lack o...