Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) dumped the controversial statement made by party general secretary Swami Prasad Maurya against Hindu religion to be his `personal opinion’, and tried to clear the Party’s stand on the issue to avert further controversy.
Distancing herself from the statement, BSP supremo Mayawati, in an official communiqué released on Monday afternoon said that the Party respects all religion and castes. “BSP respects all religion, therefore, a few things said by Maurya regarding religious practices and other things during a function in lucknow on Sunday is his personal opinion and reaction. It is not the party’s opinion,” Mayawati clarified through a statement.
The party believes in secularism and hails its moto “sarvjan hitay, sarvjan sukhaya,” the BSP supremo said, adding that the party was against interfering in the culture, marriage and lifestyle of the people.”Whatever Maurya said regarding worship and other things are his personal opinion and reaction and this is not the reaction of BSP. Therefore it should not be twisted and associated with the party,” she added. Mayawati said she wanted to establish “Samta Moolak Samaj” (society based on equality) and change inequitable system by taking along the the entire society, including Dalits, backward class, upper caste and religious minority. It may be mentioned that while addressing a gathering at Karpuri Thakur Bhagidari Sammelan here on Sunday, Maurya, who is leader of opposition in the State Assembly, had reportedly said that Goddess Gauri and lord Ganesh should not be worshipped during marriages. He made several critical references to the Hindu religion while speaking about the status of the so-called lower castes.