Samajwadi Party leader Swami Prasad Maurya stirred controversy on Wednesday by justifying the 1990 police firing on 'karsevaks' (volunteers) in Ayodhya during the Mulayam Singh Yadav government's tenure. Maurya claimed that the firing was carried out to fulfill the government's duty to protect the Constitution, peace, and order. His statement came in response to Union Minister SP Singh Baghel's reported remarks welcoming those behind the police firing to visit Ayodhya.
Maurya's comments, justifying the firing, have surfaced amidst ongoing preparations for the consecration ceremony of the new Ram temple in Ayodhya. When questioned about opposition accusations that the Narendra Modi government is politicizing the ceremony, Maurya stated that the BJP is attempting to gain political mileage, whereas the temple construction is happening on the Supreme Court's orders.
While all opposition parties welcomed the Supreme Court's decision, Maurya accused the BJP of wrongly taking credit. He questioned why the temple was not built during Atal Bihari Vajpayee's three terms as the country's leader if the BJP was capable.
Regarding his participation in the consecration ceremony on January 22, Maurya declared that he would not attend any BJP-organized event and emphasized that the ceremony is the BJP's program, not that of the Ram Lalla temple.
Furthermore, Maurya accused the central government of working to sell the country and alleged that BJP governments at the center and in the state are creating a rift between Hindus and Muslims.
(With Agency Inputs)
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