Bihar’s Education Minister and senior Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Chandrashekhar has created a controversy by saying that… Ramcharitmanasan epic poem based on Ramayana, Manusmritian ancient Sanskrit text, and bunch of ideas, “Spread hatred in society”, written by MS Golwalkar, an ideologue of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.
“It is mentioned in Ramcharitmanas That lower caste people become poisonous if they are taught. Manusmriti, Ramcharitmanas And bunch of ideas have sown the seeds of hatred and division in the society,” Mr. Chandrasekhar said while addressing the 15th convocation of Nalanda Open University on Wednesday.
His statement has drawn the ire of Bharatiya Janata Party leaders who have demanded Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to sack Mr Chandrashekhar for allegedly hurting religious sentiments. Mr Kumar, who is in Darbhanga district as part of his statewide public relations programme, solution journey, He said he was not aware of the controversy. He told reporters, “I don’t know anything in this matter.”
Mr Chandrasekhar, however, said on Thursday that he stood by his statement and would not retract it. “Give him a reward of ₹10 crore for cutting off my tongue. At least someone will become rich. I stand by my statement. I have not said anything wrong and I am not afraid of anyone.
Demanding the minister’s removal from the state cabinet, Union minister and Buxar MP Ashwini Choubey said, “He is an uneducated person and has no right to continue as the education minister.” Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Vijay Kumar Sinha demanded registration of an FIR against Mr. Chandrasekhar for “hurting the sentiments of crores of Hindus”.
BJP MLA Haribhushan Thakur Bachaul alleged that the statement was made to appease people associated with the banned outfit Popular Front of India. “He wants to convert India into an Islamic country. That is why they have insulted our religious scriptures.
Former Aam Aadmi Party leader and poet Kumar Vishwas also termed the statement as “unfortunate and distasteful” and demanded the minister’s sacking for failing to apologise.