Last Update: January 24, 2023, 22:18 IST
Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Swami Prasad Maurya is considered a prominent OBC leader in Uttar Pradesh. (File photo: PTI)
Maurya, considered a prominent OBC leader in Uttar Pradesh, largely stuck to his stand, saying he had commented on the holy book in his personal capacity and not as a member of the SP
Samajwadi Party leader Swami Prasad Maurya on Tuesday said he had spoken on a particular shloka in Ramcharitmanas and not about Lord Ram or any religion, but refused to take back comments that gave rise to a row. Gave and embarrassed his party.
In an interview with PTI, Maurya, considered a prominent OBC leader in Uttar Pradesh, largely stuck to his stand, saying that he had commented on the holy book in his personal capacity and not as an SP member. in the form of.
In response to a question, he said, “These were my personal comments… While making the statement, I had said that this is my personal statement.”
Maurya recently courted a controversy by accusing certain verses of the Ramcharitmanas of “insulting” a large section of society on the basis of caste and demanded that these be “banned”.
Asked whether he still stood by his statement, the SP leader replied, “Have I said something wrong that I will go back?” “I respect all religions, but abusing any religion or anyone cannot be allowed… I have only talked about banning a particular part which includes women, tribals, dalits and backward classes Derogatory remarks have been made. I have done it.” Talked about removing only those parts of the quadrupeds.”
Asked about leaders from his own Samajwadi Party who criticized his statement, Maurya said, “Those who have opposed me are from a certain section of society,” and drew attention to their surnames.
He further said that he only talked about “objectionable comments”, and if he is concerned with Lord Ram, Dharma or Ramcharitmanas, it shows the “narrow mindedness” of the critics. “People are associating the comments with Lord Rama, God, Dharma and Ramcharitmanas. This shows their narrow mindedness.” Speaking to PTI over the phone, Maurya, when asked about the case registered against him at Hazratganj police station, said, “Ab uttarakhand kettle ko kala kah raha hai (‘Ab ulta chor kotwal ko dante’). Who Is pleading, and I am being abused. He further claimed that he was demanding the government to ban the offensive words.
Maurya told PTI that those in the media who are speaking against him fall in the category of abusers. “The class which is abused is not against me,” he said.
The former Uttar Pradesh cabinet minister also claimed that 80 per cent people on social media are with him.
When asked whether he had any discussion with the Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav On this issue, Maurya said, “I have just finished a program in Sant Kabir Nagar. When I have not spoken on behalf of the party, why should I discuss (with Yadav).”
He said, “These were my personal comments. When I speak on the platform of the party, I talk to the national president of the party.”
The Ramcharitmanas is an epic poem in the Awadhi language, based on the Ramayana, by the 16th-century Bhakti poet Tulsidas.
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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)