Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Sitaram Yechury courted a controversy on Thursday after he referred to epics like the Ramayana and the Mahabharata to assert that “even Hindus can be violent”. His comments came in response to Bharatiya Janata Party's Bhopal candidate Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur's claim that Hindus don't believe in violence.
Addressing a public meeting in Bhopal, Yechury said: “Pragya Thakur said that Hindus don't believe in violence. Many kings and principalities have fought battles in the country. The Ramayana and the Mahabharata are also filled with instances of violence. Being a pracharak, you narrate the epics but still claim Hindus can't be violent?”
“What is the logic behind saying there is a religion which engages in violence and we Hindus don't,” asked Yechury.
The left leader also lashed out at the Rashtriya Samayamsevak Sangh (RSS), accusing it of planning to tamper with the Constitution.
He further said that the BJP is spreading "Hindutva agenda".
"After the initial phases of election got over, they came back to the core Hindutva agenda— abolition of Article 35A and 370, construction of Ram Mandir on the disputed sight, Uniform Civil Code and the NRC. On the back of such issues, the decision to bring in Sadhvi Pragya Thakur to contest from Bhopal after the third phase is a step taken based on hyping up the sentiments of the people," Yechury said.
The CPI(M) leader's statements drew sharp reactions from various quarters.
“Ideologically, you are completely illiterate. After May 23, when you're done crying with your lost allies, come meet me. I will share Ram’s tale with you. You won't get blessings but perhaps your biased views will be gone. Have you ever asked these questions about holy scriptures of other religions?,” AAP leader Kumar Vishwas wrote on Twitter.
BJP leader Subramanian Swamy suggested that Yechury change his first name.
“Hindu minded Media persons interviewing me today were agitated by Sitaram Yechuri’s hate remarks on Ramayana katha. I told them that they should have asked him to first change him name from Sitaram to Mar(x)Leni(n)= Marleni,” Swamy wrote on Twitter.
Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut also blasted Yechury saying the left leader's ideology has only one objective—to attack Hindus.
"What is the meaning of Hindus being violent? Ramayana and Mahabharata conveyed one central message - victory of good over evil, truth over falsehood. Ram, Krishna and Arjuna are symbols of truth. If this is the meaning that they interpret then tomorrow they will say that our Jawans fighting against Pakistan is violence. When we defend ourselves against Pakistani acts of terrorism in Kashmir, is that violence?," Raut asked.
