Last Update: January 28, 2023, 18:37 IST
Maurya met Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav at the party office in Lucknow today. (Photo: Twitter/@SwamiPMaurya)
Maurya, a prominent OBC leader from Uttar Pradesh, recently courted a controversy when he alleged that some verses of the Ramcharitmanas “insult” a large section of society on the basis of caste and demanded that those be “banned”.
Amidst uproar over his remarks on Ramcharitmanas, senior Samajwadi Party leader Swami Prasad Maurya on Friday compared some “protectors of religion” to “terrorists” and “executioners”.
Maurya said in a tweet in Hindi: “Following one of my recent statements, some dharma custodians had announced to cut off my tongue and reward whoever beheads me. If someone else had said, this chowkidar would have called him a terrorist. Now what to call these saints, mahants, religious leaders and people of special caste? Terrorist, executioner or devil?”
Maurya, a prominent OBC leader from Uttar Pradesh, recently courted a controversy when he alleged that some verses of the Ramcharitmanas “insult” a large section of society on the basis of caste and demanded that those be “banned”.
The Ramcharitmanas is an epic poem in the Awadhi language, based on the Ramayana and composed by the 16th-century Bhakti poet Tulsidas.
A case has been registered against Maurya at Lucknow’s Hazratganj police station for allegedly hurting religious sentiments with his remarks on Ramcharitmanas. A case was registered under relevant sections of the IPC, including 295A (intentional and malicious act intended to outrage the religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs), 298 (intentional intent to outrage religious feelings) , 504 (Intentional insult with intent). Police said that for breach of the peace) and 153A (outraging or assaulting religion, caste, place of birth, residence etc.).
Meanwhile, Maurya met the head of the Samajwadi Party Akhilesh Yadav Today at the party office in Lucknow.
Maurya had earlier refused to retract his remarks and said that he had spoken on a particular verse in the Hindu epic poem and not about Lord Ram or any religion. Asked whether he still stood by his statement, the SP leader had replied, “Have I said something wrong that I will go back?” I have spoken of banning only a particular portion which contains derogatory remarks on women, tribals, dalits and backward classes. I have said to remove only those parts of ‘Chaupai’.”
“People are associating the comments with Lord Ram, Bhagwan, Dharma and Ramcharitmanas. It shows their narrow mindedness.”
A local leader of the Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha has announced a reward of Rs 51,000 to anyone who bites off his tongue. 51,000 check. They have insulted our religious text and hurt the sentiments of Hindus,” said Saurabh Sharma, district in-charge of the Mahasabha.
(With PTI inputs)
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