"Duty To Fire Bullets On Anarchic" Karsevaks In Ayodhya: Swami Prasad Maurya Defends Samajwadi Party Government

Known for his anti-Hindu controversial statements, Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Swami Prasad Maurya has once again sparked controversy by saying that it was the then government's "duty to fire bullets on anarchic elements".

The incident that Maurya is talking about dates back to 1990 when SP founder Mulayam Singh Yadav was the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and the police were ordered to open fire at karsevaks near Babri structure in Ayodhya.

Maurya defended the SP government's decision to open fire at karsevaks calling them "anarchic elements" and said on Tuesday (9 January), "Without judiciary's directions, without administrative order, anarchic elements did widespread vandalism."

"For saving the constitution and law and maintaining peace, it was the then government's duty to fire bullets," the SP leader added. It is pertinent to mention that around 50 unarmed karsevaks were killed in this firing.

Notably, this comes after SP national president and former UP CM Akhilesh Yadav had reportedly instructed party leaders to not comment on religious matters.

Commenting on Maurya's earlier statements, SP MLA Rakesh Pratap Singh told ANI, "...I have met the national president of the party (Akhilesh Yadav) and told him to put a stop to his (Maurya's) statements."

Last month, Maurya had said, "Hindu ek dhokha hai" and on the occasion of Diwali, he disrespected Hinduism by questioning existence of Goddess Lakshmi and said, "How can Lakshmi be born with four hands."