Rajasthan Elections: Yogi Adityanath calls ‘Hanuman’ a scheduled caste, gets legal notice

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday landed in trouble after a right-wing group in Rajasthan demanded his apology within three days for allegedly calling Lord Hanuman a scheduled caste.

According to reports, Rajasthan Sarv Brahmin Mahasabha president Suresh Mishra has sent a notice to Adityanath, accusing him of dragging Lord Hanuman’s caste for political gain for the BJP in the state where assembly polls will be held on December 7.

The notice reads: “I am saddened that UP chief minister called Lord Hanuman deprived. His statement has hurt religious sentiments of several devotees. Those who are deprived they get strength to fight the odds. It is a sheer attempt to take political mileage in election”.

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During an election rally in Malakheda of Alwar district in Rajasthan on Tuesday, Adityanath had allegedly said, “Hanuman was a forest dweller, deprived and a Dalit (scheduled caste). Bajrang Bali worked to connect all Indian communities together, from north to south and east to west”.

“This was his resolve as it was Lord Ram’s wish. Just like him, we should also not rest till we fulfil that wish,” Yogi added.

Shifting his campaign from political to religion, Adityanath also urged people of the district to vote for “Ram bhakts” and not “Ravana”.

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Candidate Ram Kishan of BJP is contesting from the constituency which comes under the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes area.

Following Adityanath’s controversial comment, though he often takes the “Hindutva” while campaigning for his lotus party, it triggered a political row prompting the Congress to blame the BJP for its “dual face”, said the sources.

Congress leader Pramod Tiwari condemned the Adityanath’s remarks, saying the BJP divides individual and the society but it is for the first time that it has divided gods into castes.

The UP chief minister has been on a series of election rallies in the state to campaign for the BJP and its nominees fielded in the upcoming assembly election.

(With PTI inputs)