Patna: Bihar's Education Minister and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader, Chandra Shekhar Yadav, sparked controversy by referring to 'Prophet Muhammad' as 'Maryada Purushottam,' a term typically used to refer to Lord Rama. The statement made during a Janmashtami event in Bihar's Nalanda district has drawn criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which accuses Yadav of playing divisive appeasement politics.
Yadav's statement, where he mentioned the term 'Maryada Purushottam Prophet' in relation to Prophet Muhammad, has raised concerns about religious and social divisions. The BJP strongly condemned the statement, with Danish Iqbal, the media in charge of Bihar BJP, labeling it as an act of appeasement aimed at a specific religious vote bank. Iqbal remarked that such statements have the potential to further divide society and criticized RJD for playing politics based on religion. He emphasized that all religions promote messages of peace, and BJP respects all faiths. Iqbal urged Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to take action against the education minister for his remarks.
Arvind Singh, a spokesperson for the BJP, accused the RJD of using divisive tactics for political gain. Singh emphasized that RJD's politics revolve around religious and caste-based divisions, and their statements are aimed at securing votes rather than fostering unity. This is not the first time Chandra Shekhar Yadav has made controversial remarks. In a previous incident, he criticized the Ramcharitmanas, a revered Hindu text, and claimed that it spread hatred in society. His interpretation of a couplet from the text led to strong criticism, as he associated it with caste discrimination. Despite the backlash, Yadav stood by his statements and vowed to continue questioning the Ramcharitmanas. Yadav's recent comments have reignited the debate surrounding his approach to religious and social issues, with critics accusing him of using divisive rhetoric for political purposes.
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