Samajwadi Party MLC Swami Prasad Maurya, who is spearheading the controversy over a verse in Ramcharitmanas, said that Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat had vindicated his stand on the verse with derogatory reference to Schedule Caste, Other Backward Classes and women.
“I had raised the issue of a controversial reference to SC, OBCs and women only in Ramcharitmanas. With the RSS chief vindicating my stand, not only Ramcharitmanas but all religious scriptures of Sanatan Dharma including Vedas, Upnishad and Puran should be scrutinised for bringing out the controversial references to Schedule Caste, OBCs and women,” Swami Prasad Maurya said here on Monday.
“RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat appears to have given this statement under compulsions, but his concern over the caste-based inequality are fully justified. Mohan Bhagwat should now take the lead for deletion of controversial references against the SC, OBCs and women in all books including Vedas, Upanishad and Puran,” Maurya said here on Monday.
He added: “My campaign against the controversial reference in Ramcharitmanas has rattled the status quoists who want to maintain the hegemony of the upper caste and are against reforms in Sanatan Dharma.”
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday said the “illusion” of caste superiority is misleading and there are no such differences between people belonging to different castes.
“Whatever the name, ability and honour of a person, everybody is the same and there are no differences. What some pandits say on the basis of shastras is a lie. We are misled by caste superiority and this illusion has to be set aside,” Bhagwat said this while addressing a meeting marking the 647th birth anniversary of Sant Shiromani Ravidas.
Swami Prasad Maurya maintained that he had said nothing against Ramayana and had only demanded the deletion of a particular verse which makes derogatory reference to SC, OBCs and women.
“My demand is well within the framework of Article 15 of the Constitution which prohibits discrimination on the grounds of caste, religion, varna, sex, birth and language. The heads of Hindu religious organisations, instead of supporting the reforms in religion, are issuing death threats to me and issuing prize money for my (killing) contract,” Maurya said.
“Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is from the OBC community, had faced humiliation because of his caste. He had said he was called “neech” (mean person) by a party as he was born in an OBC caste,” Maurya said. He added: “Former Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Pravin Togadia had called me as his brother. Mere statement will not work, he will have to take some tangible measures for the reforms in religion.”
“I appeal to RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, Prime Minister Narendrra Modi and Pravin Togadia to join hands and work for the reforms in Hindu religion and persuade the heads of Hindu religious organisations to delete the objectionable references to SCs, OBCs and women in religious books,” Maurya said.
