'Hinduism a hoax', says Samajwadi Party leader, raising stir

New Delhi: Inciting controversy, Samajwadi Party leader Swami Prasad Mauryam commented that Hinduism is no religion but a form of deception, reports NDTV.

On Tuesday, while talking at the National Buddist and Bahujan Rights Conference here, Maurya pointed out that the Supreme Court, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and even Rashtriya Swamsevak Sangha chief Mohan Bhagwat have stated that Hinduism is just a “way of life”.

He said that when the top court said so, no one’s sentiments get hurt, but when only he says it, it results in unrest.

In 1995, the top court made a serious observation that Hindutva or Hindu is defined as a way of life and not a religion in India. The court allowed the use of said words in election campaigns.

After Maurya’s comments, an advocate named Vineet Jindal filed a complaint against the leader with Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora, which the advocate informed through X.

However, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav advised his party members not to make religious or casteist comments, according to India Today. He met with representatives of Kannauj’s Prabuddha Samaj and Maha Brahmin Samaj Panchayat at the party headquarters. It was learned that the meeting was called after some party members raised objections against Maurya’s comments.

According to the ANI report, Maurya alleged that leaders from the upper classes used Bahujan votes to come to power and withdrew reservations. He said that Brahmins, Kshatriyas and Vaishyas together make up 8% of the population, which can never create a government on its own. But they have exploited the lower and backward classes and formed governments in the name of Hindu, he said, adding that Hinduism is a hoax.