Savitribai Phule, MP from Uttar Pradesh, quits BJP, says ' it is trying to create divisions in society'

Savitribai Phule, BJP MP from Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh resigns from the party, says 'BJP is trying to create divisions in society', reports news agency ANI. This comes two days after she took on the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath over his comment on Hanuman’s caste.

While addressing a rally in Malakheda of Alwar district in poll-bound Rajasthan, of Alwar district, Adityanath had said: "Lord Hanuman was a forest dweller, deprived and a Dalit. Bajrang Bali worked to connect all Indian communities together, from north to south and east to west."

Phule alleged that people from the backward castes were being called 'bandar' (monkey) and 'rakshas' (demon). "Lord Hanuman was a Dalit and a slave of 'manuwadi' people. He was a Dalit and a human. He did all for Lord Ram then why he was given a tail and his face was blackened. Why was he made a monkey?," Phule said.

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"When he did all for Lord Ram with devotion, he (Lord Hanuman) should have been made a human and not a 'bandar' (monkey). At that time also he had to face humiliation due to being a Dalit. Why can't we Dalits be considered humans?", she told news agency PTI.

After his statement, Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar asked members of his community to take over all temples belonging to Lord Hanuman.

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Soon after Aditynath’s statement, right-wing group the Rajasthan Sarv Brahmin Mahasabha sent a legal notice to the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister asking him to apologise within three days.

On Sunday, Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar asked members of his community to take over all temples belonging to Lord Hanuman.