Varanasi. The war in the Samajwadi Party (SP) seems to be intensifying on the issue of Ramcharitmanas. SP General Secretary Swami Prasad Maurya has now retaliated on the statement of party MLA Rakesh Pratap Singh on this issue. Swami Prasad Maurya has called Rakesh Pratap, SP MLA from Amethi, a child. Maurya has also said that he had talked about amending the objectionable verses against Dalits, tribals and women in Ramcharitmanas, and not against Ramcharitmanas. The way a war broke out in the SP because of Maurya’s statement on Ramcharitmanas, it could become a problem for the party’s president Akhilesh Yadav in the days to come.
SP MLA from Amethi Rakesh Pratap Singh had said that he opposes the controversial statement given by Swami Prasad Maurya on Ramcharitmanas. Rakesh Pratap had said that he is ready to lose the post and everything, but cannot listen to anything against Sanatan Dharma or its religious texts under any circumstances. SP MLA had demanded action from Akhilesh Yadav in this matter. He also said that he feels ashamed due to the presence of Swami Prasad in the SP. Before Rakesh Pratap, SP spokesperson Roli Mishra Tiwari also condemned Swami Prasad Maurya’s statement on Ramcharitmanas.
SP General Secretary Swami Prasad Maurya is still adamant on his statement on Ramcharitmanas. Whereas, after his statement, an OBC organization in Lucknow also burnt copies of Ramcharitmanas. 5 people involved in this incident were arrested by the police. On the other hand, Hinduist organizations showed black flags to Maurya who was going to Varanasi on Sunday and also threw ink on his car.