Lucknow, Nov 2 Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Monday demanded punitive action against a religious preacher over his alleged controversial remarks on Lord Krishna, saying the matter should be taken up at the highest level.
Without naming Dhirendra Krishna Shastri, spiritual head of Bageshwar Dham, Yadav alleged that derogatory comparisons between revered Hindu deities were aimed at undermining the unity of the Sanatan community.
Shastri allegedly compared Lord Krishna with Lord Ram, favouring the latter, while delivering a Ram Katha in Karera in Madhya Pradesh’s Shivpuri district. A video of the alleged comments has since circulated on social media.
Following objections from members of the religious community, Shastri clarified that he had no intention of creating differences between the two deities, according to the reports.
In a post on X, accompanied by a video of Lord Krishna wielding the Sudarshan Chakra, Yadav described the alleged remarks as “extremely unfortunate and objectionable”.
He said both deities were incarnations of the same divine entity and questioned the rationale behind comparing them in a manner that allegedly placed one above the other.
“Both the protector of the people and the one who brings them joy are incarnations of the same divine entity. What is the rationale behind such undignified comparisons? This must be clarified,” he said.
The SP chief alleged that the remarks “appeared to reflect the designs of someone working behind the scenes” and warned that “failure to check such statements could create an atmosphere of discord and resentment in society”.
He said people across political parties and their supporters had united in opposing the alleged remarks and urged “those claiming to represent Sanatan traditions to speak out against them”.
Yadav also referred to other alleged incidents involving criticism of Sanatan traditions and questioned whether they were isolated occurrences or part of a broader design.
He said “genuine followers” of Sanatan traditions worship both Lord Ram and Lord Krishna, adding that the alleged comparison had hurt members of the Sanatan community as well as people from other communities.
“Any kind of venomous expression against any religion, faith, sect or its revered deities and great figures is absolutely unacceptable. The matter should be taken up at the highest level, and punitive action should be taken,” Yadav said.
(PTI News)
