After Ramcharitmanas row, Swami Prasad Maurya calls saints and seers 'terrorists and devil'

Patna, Jan 28: Samajwadi Party leader Swami Prasad Maurya has again stoked controversy with his tweet on Hindu saints and religious leaders. The SP leader was at the center of a row recently for alleging that certain verses of the Ramcharitmanas 'insult' a large section of society on the basis of caste, and hence these should be banned.

 

 

 

Days later, on Friday, Maurya tweeted against the heat he got for his remarks on Ramcharitmanas.

 

 

 

In his tweet, he said, "Recently, based on the statement given by me, some religious contractors have declared a reward to those who cut my tongue and head. If someone else would have said the same thing, they would have called him a terrorist." "But what should we call these saints, mahants, and religious leaders now—terrorists, super devils, or executioners?" he added. Booked for his comments on the Ramcharitmanas, Samajwadi Party leader Swami Prasad Maurya has refused to retract his remarks, saying he had spoken about a particular verse in a Hindu epic poem and not about Lord Ram or any religion. Maurya, a prominent OBC leader in Uttar Pradesh, largely stuck to his stand in an interview but asserted that his comments, which triggered a row and embarrassed his party, were made in a personal capacity and not as a member of the SP. "At the time of giving the statement, I had said this is my personal statement," he said. Maurya kicked up controversy recently by alleging that certain verses of the Ramcharitmanas "insult" a large section of society on the basis of caste and demanded that these be "banned". Asked if he still stood by his statement, the SP leader replied, "Have I said anything wrong that I will go back?"

Also Read: Another SP leader calls for a ban on Ramcharitmanas 

"I give respect to all religions, but no religion or anyone can have the permission to hurl abuses... I have spoken about banning only a particular portion in which insulting comments have been made about women, tribals, Dalits, and backward classes. I have spoken about removing only those parts of the 'chaupai'," he added. Ramcharitmanas, an epic poem in the Awadhi language, is based on the Ramayana and was composed by the 16th-century Bhakti poet Tulsidas.