Lucknow, Nov 5 (PTI) Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav urged organisers and sponsors of religious programmes to stay away from controversial preachers, saying those making objectionable remarks about Hindu deities could create social discord and damage the reputation of those inviting them.
Yadav's remarks came amid a controversy over statements by Bageshwar Dham head priest Dhirendra Shastri concerning Lord Krishna and Lord Ram.
In a post on X, without directly naming Shastri, the SP chief described some religious speakers as "so-called storytellers" who use religious discourses as a business and make irresponsible remarks to gain cheap publicity.
"Money is their religion," he said, alleging that such preachers periodically indulge in vulgar displays of their material achievements.
He appealed to the administration, organisers and sponsors to exercise caution before inviting such speakers, warning that while the preachers might escape consequences by receiving political patronage, local organisers would have to face the people's anger in their own cities.
Yadav said objectionable remarks about Hindu deities could create social divisions and lead devotees to believe that the organisers and sponsors also endorsed such statements.
The former chief minister said those inviting such speakers to establish their influence locally could suffer social, economic and political losses and earn a reputation for opposing religion and the gods.
Urging organisers not to encourage people who create divisions in society and among followers of Sanatan Dharma, Yadav warned that they too could face the consequences of the preachers' controversial remarks.
He also suggested inviting genuine scholars and religious speakers who could explain the Vedic and Upanishadic traditions and convey the messages of India's epics to improve human life.
Reacting to Yadav's remarks, Uttar Pradesh BJP president Pankaj Chaudhary, in a post on X, quoted a couplet from the Ramcharitmanas and said those whose own conduct was questionable did not look good while preaching to others.
Shastri, during a Ram Katha held recently in Karera in Madhya Pradesh's Shivpuri district, had compared the forms of Lord Ram and Lord Krishna, saying Ram stands straight while Krishna stands bent in three places. He was referring to Lord Krishna's 'tribhanga' posture.
The Bageshwar Dham head priest had also compared Ayodhya and Vrindavan.
After his remarks sparked controversy, Shastri apologised, saying he did not intend to insult any deity.
