Caste labels for Hanuman anger seers

Lucknow, December 23

Seers in Uttar Pradesh have disapproved of recent remarks by politicians, sticking caste and creed labels on Lord Hanuman. The seers expressed disapproval after state’s Religious Affair Minister Laxmi Narayan Chaudhary dubbed Lord Hanuman as a Jat, saying that like Jats, the deity never tolerated injustice to anybody, anywhere.

The minister made the remark after another BJP leader dubbed Lord Hanuman as a Muslim on the ground that his name rhymed with Islamic names like Rahman, Arman, Qurban, etc.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had earlier dubbed Bajrang Bali as a Dalit. “There should be stringent action against those making such unsavoury remarks about God. The politicians must not drag God’s name to reap political dividends,” Mahant Ramdas of Nirmohi Akhara of Ayodhya said.

“This is absolutely wrong and simply despicable. Lord Hanuman is worshipped by a large section of the society cutting across religious lines,” he said. Mahant Raju Das of Ayodhya’s Hanumangarhi temple said, “Those making such frivolous remarks must be punished. — PTI