Portions of Ramcharitmanas 'insult' large section of society on basis of caste: SP leader
Lucknow, Jan 22: Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Swami Prasad Maurya on Sunday alleged that certain portions of the Ramcharitmanas "insult" a large section of society on the basis of caste and said these should be "banned".
Though the party distanced itself from Maurya's remark, saying it was his personal comments, the BJP in Uttar Pradesh demanded that he apologise and take back his statement.
Maurya, who is considered a prominent OBC leader in the state, said, "Religion is meant for the welfare of humanity and for strengthening it."
"If there is any insult to a section of society due to certain lines in the Ramcharitmanas on the basis of 'jaati', 'varn' and 'varg', then it is certainly not 'dharma', it is 'adharma'. There are certain lines in which names of castes such as 'teli' and 'kumhaar' are mentioned," he said.
Maurya claimed that "the feelings of lakhs of people hailing from these castes have been hurt."
"Similarly, a 'chaupaai' (verse) says that women should be punished. This amounts to hurting the feelings of women, who constitute half of the population," he said in his comments on the Ramcharitmanas, a popular version of the Ramayana penned by poet Tulsidas.
"If a debate on Tulsidas' Ramcharitmanas is an insult... then why are religious leaders not worried about the insult to SCs, STs, OBCs and women. Are SCs, STs, OBCs and (a large number of) women not Hindus?" Maurya, who had quit the BJP to join the SP ahead of the 2022 Uttar Pradesh assembly polls, asked.
He demanded that "the objectionable portions of the Ramcharitmanas that insult on the basis of 'jaati', 'varn' and 'varg' should be banned".
Earlier this month, Bihar Education Minister and RJD leader Chandra Shekhar landed in a controversy after he alleged that certain verses of the Ramcharitmanas promoted social discrimination.
On Maurya's remarks, SP spokesperson Fakhrul Hasan said, "The Samajwadi Party respects all religions and traditions."
"The statement made by Swami Prasad Maurya is his personal comments, and it has nothing to do with the SP. The SP raises its voice for the youth, unemployed and women," he said.
Uttar Pradesh BJP chief Bhupendra Singh Chaudhary said, "(SP chief) Akhilesh Yadav, Shivpal Yadav, Dimple Yadav and Ramgopal Yadav should give an answer."
"Now, Swami Prasad Maurya is making desperate efforts to become a big leader (in the SP), but that reservation is not towards him, it is towards the (Yadav) family. The SP had worked to hamper our religious activities," he said.
Sharpening his attack on Maurya, Chaudhary said, "Such statements could be made by only a 'vikshipt' (mentally disturbed person). The SP has to decide whether the statement is of Swami Prasad Maurya or that of the party."
"The history of the SP is that it had always worked to impose a ban on our religious events and religious occasions. Maurya should not have given such a statement, and he should seek an apology. He has played with the sentiments of crores of countrymen. This is condemnable," the BJP leader said.
"He should take back his statement, and if he does not do so, then the SP should initiate action against him," Chaudhary said.
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4 held for sexually assaulting woman, girl on moving bus after social media alert in UP's Agra
Agra (UP) (PTI): Four people were arrested, after a prompt response by police following a social media alert, for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman and a girl inside a moving bus here, officials said on Tuesday.
According to an official police statement, at 12:27 am on April 27, information was received on the social media platform X about an incident of sexual assault on a bus travelling from Kanpur to Ahmedabad, which was approaching Namner crossing in Agra.
Acting under the direction of Police Commissioner Deepak Kumar, the Agra Police social media team immediately alerted the Rakabganj police station within minutes and coordinated with the victims to confirm the incident and obtain the exact location, it stated.
Police teams launched intensive checking at Namner crossing and intercepted the bus as it reached the spot. The four accused involved in the incident were apprehended on the spot, and legal action was initiated against them, the statement said.
The police said the swift response and coordination between the social media team and field units ensured timely action, bringing relief to the victims and other passengers, who expressed gratitude towards the police, it added.
