'Hindu Ek Dhokha': 2024 Poll Heat Rises, SP's Swami Prasad Maurya Sparks New Controversy; BJP Reacts

Samajwadi Party leader Swami Prasad Maurya has reiterated his contentious comments that Hinduism is a “betrayal”, triggering a fresh controversy and drawing criticism by the Centre’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

“Hindu ek dhoka hai (Hindu religion is a betrayal),” the controversial leader said at the National Buddhist and Bahujan Rights Conference in New Delhi on Monday. In the same breath, he tried to to justify his statement, citing views that Hinduism is a way of life.

“In 1955, the Supreme Court said in its order that Hindu is not a religion but a way of life. It is a conglomeration of more than 200 religions. Even Mohan Bhagwat had said, not once but twice, that Hindu is not a religion but a way of life. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also said that Hindu is not a religion. Even Gadkari had said the same thing in a media conclave,” Maurya said while speaking at National Buddhist and Bahujan Rights Conference in New Delhi on Monday.

The Samajwadi Party leader questioned why no one’s sentiments get hurt when they say the same thing on Hinduism that he had said.

“But when they say these, no one’s sentiments get hurt but when Swami Prasad Maurya says that Hindu is not a religion but a betrayal and what we refer to as Hindu religion is a business for some people, the whole country gets into a storm,” Maurya said.

“When the Supreme Court said the same thing in 1955, no one took offence. But when Swami Prasad Maurya says it, FIRs are registered throughout the country. I am saying the same thing that the Indian Constitution is saying,” he added.

The Samajwadi Party leader said that the Hindu upper classes make use of the Bahujan vote bank to come into power, but after doing so they cancel reservations for them.

“Brahmins, Kshatriyas and Vaishyas together make up eight per cent of the population. These eight per cent cannot form a government on its own. These have exploited the backward classes and formed the government in the name of Hindu. For the purpose of votes, we are Hindus. But after forming the government, we are no longer Hindus. If it had been the case, they would have never cancelled reservations for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes or backward castes,” Maurya said.

The Samajwadi Party MLC said that those sitting at the top echelons of power are weakening democracy by doing away with reservations.

“Those who swear by the Constitution, the Prime Minister and the Chief Ministers, those who are at the helm of power are prioritizing Manuvaad. The Constitution is being made ineffective…Reservations are being done away with. Even democracy is being weakened. Almost 150 MPs were disqualified from Parliament. Is it not a conspiracy against democracy? Is the government not imposing its say on its people?” Maurya said.

Swami Prasad Maurya’s Recent Controversial Remarks

Swami Prasad Maurya, who came to limelight after stoking a major controversy with his ‘Ramcharitmanas‘ comments had earlier said in August the Hinduism is a “betrayal”.

In a video posted on ‘X’ Maurya was heard saying, “The roots of Brahminism are very deep and the reason for all the disparity is also Brahminism. There is no religion called Hindu, Hinduism is just a hoax. There is a conspiracy to trap the Dalits, tribals and backward people of this country by calling the same Brahmin religion as Hindu religion.”

The SP leader had also questioned the birth of Hindu goddess Lakshmi and said, “How can Lakshmi be born with four hands?” In a post on X, Swami Prasad Maurya said that every child born anywhere in the world has two hands, two legs, two ears, and two eyes and if a child with eight hands, and ten hands has not been born till now, how can goddess Lakshmi be born with four hands.

Sharp Reactions from Opponents

• On Maurya’s “Hindu ek dhoka hai” remark, Union minister Nityanand Rai said, “Be it Swami Prasad Maurya or any leader of the INDIA alliance, they don’t understand the meaning of ‘dharma’…Their ideology is based on appeasement and this is done for votes.”

• Last month BJP president Bhupendra Chaudhary had lashed out at Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav in connection with Maurya’s statement on Goddess Lakshmi. Choudhury said, “Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav remained silent on the insult of Ramayana in the past and is now keeping mum on the insult of Mata Mahalakshmi Ji. This proves that the SP chief has himself handed over the agenda of insulting Sanatan Hindu religion to Swami Prasad Maurya by making him the national General Secretary of the party.”