SP leader Swami Prasad Maurya explains 'Hindu Dharma Is Dhoka' Remark; Citing SC order

Swami Prasad Maurya, a prominent leader of the Samajwadi Party, has defended his controversial statement, declaring "Hindu ek dhoka hai" (Hinduism is a betrayal), by referencing a 1955 Supreme Court order. Speaking at the National Buddhist and Bahujan Rights Conference in New Delhi on Monday, Maurya asserted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari had echoed similar sentiments.

He quoted the Supreme Court's 1955 order, stating that Hinduism is not a religion but a way of life, amalgamating over 200 diverse religions. Maurya questioned the selective outrage, highlighting that when prominent figures make similar statements, there is no widespread condemnation.

In his address, Maurya accused the Hindu upper classes of leveraging the Bahujan vote bank for political gains, only to later revoke reservations for marginalized communities. He contended that despite invoking Hindu identity for electoral purposes, the government neglected the interests of scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, and backward castes once in power.

Maurya, known for his earlier controversial remarks, suggested a conspiracy to entrap Dalits, tribals, and backward communities, asserting that Hinduism is a mere fabrication and that the roots of social disparities lie in Brahminism.