Patna: A BJP MLA in Bihar questioned the logic of worshipping Goddess Lakshmi on Diwali, enraging a group of people who burnt his effigy.
Lalan Paswan, BJP MLA from Pirpainti Assembly constituency in Bhagalpur district, said there would have no billionaires and trillionaires among Muslims if worshipping Goddess Lakshmi is the only means of getting wealth.
In a viral video, Paswan can be heard questioning the logic of worshipping Hindu deities with evidence. "If wealth comes only from worshipping Goddess Lakshmi, there would have no billionaires and trillionaires among Muslims. Muslims do not worship the Goddess, are they not rich? Muslims either worship Goddess Saraswati, yet there are scholars, IAS and IPS among them."
Paswan also said that "atma and Paramatma" are just beliefs and people need to think scientifically to reach a logical conclusion.
"If you believe then it is a Goddess, and if not then it is just a stone idol. It is up to us whether we believe in Gods and Goddesses or not. If you stop believing, then your intellectual capacity will increase," he added.
"It is believed that Bajrangbali is a deity with power and bestows strength. Muslims or Christians do not worship Bajrangbali. Are they not powerful? The day you stop believing, all these things will end," said Paswan.