New Delhi: Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Swami Prasad Maurya on Monday stoked controversy again by hurling fresh religious slurs at the Hindu mahants & saints. Casting aspersions on the saints & seers, the SP leader & former UP minister called them ‘Aatankis, Mahashaitan & jallad’. His provocative comments on Hindu saints has left the right-wing outfits as well as BJP offended & infuriated. In his tweet, Maurya however mentioned that awards/rewards were announced for those who will behead/kill him and these calls were given by so-called custodians of Hindu religion. Maurya’s remarks has given a fresh twist to the already heated political space. The BJP was quick to tear into the SP leader for ‘deliberate’ insult & slight of the Hindu saints. अभी हाल में मेंरे दिये गये बयान पर कुछ धर्म के ठेकेदारों ने मेरी जीभ काटने एवं सिर काटने वालों को इनाम घोषित किया है, अगर यही बात कोई और कहता तो यही ठेकेदार उसे आतंकवादी कहते, किंतु अब इन संतों, महंतों, धर्माचार्यों व जाति विशेष लोगों को क्या कहा जाए आतंकवादी, महाशैतान या जल्लाद। — Swami Prasad Maurya (@SwamiPMaurya) January 27, 2023 Hitting back at the ‘uncouth’ former minister, the BJP said that he was acting at ‘the behest of political masters’ and people of the state won’t forgive him or his master for his profane act. Maurya’s past controversy Earlier, Maurya sparked off controversy as his comments on Ramcharitmanas led to big protests against him, for alleged desecration of the Hindu religion’s sacred tests. Being a powerful OBC face in the state, Swami Prasad Maruya’s controversial comment ignited political furore. Though, he denied making any derogatory remarks. Sticking to his guns, he said that he had just spoke against a particular verse in Ramcharitmanas. He also stated that he made that comment in personal capacity and claimed that 80% people on social media were with him. An FIR was also lodged against him over controversial remarks on 'Ramcharitmanas'. He was booked for allegedly hurting the religious sentiments of people, with his offensive remarks on Ramcharitmanas.
