Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], April 15 : Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav said on Tuesday that for many people, Babasaheb Ambedkar is still a "God", and no one can be compared with the Constitution architect.
His remark came a day after the 134th birth anniversary of Babasaheb Dr BR Ambedkar.
"For many people, Baba Saheb Bhimrao Ambedkar is still God; no one can be compared to him," the former UP chief minister told reporters here.
The SP supremo also claimed that people are joining the party in Uttar Pradesh and other states and targeted the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh.
"...A large number of people are joining Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh and other states as well. Samajwadi Party will try to strengthen the fight of PDA by including those people who want to join (the party) from other parties. The way BJP works, it seems that they are scared of the power of PDA...," he said.
PDA stands for (Picchda, Dalit and Alpasankhyak).
Earlier in the day, Akhilesh Yadav distanced himself from the comments made by party MLA Indrajeet Saroj regarding temples in India. According to Akhilesh Yadav, he hasn't heard Indrajeet Saroj's statement or Ramji Lal Suman's statement on the matter. Instead, he emphasised the importance of focusing on progressive issues rather than dwelling on historical topics. Akhilesh Yadav suggested that if historical discussions can't provide a positive direction, they should be left alone.
Yadav told ANI, "I have not heard his statement, I have not even heard Ramji Lal Suman's statement, but I will say in the party that no question related to history should be raised... I want that if the things of history cannot show us a good path, if it cannot take us on a positive path, if it cannot give us a positive direction, then history should be allowed to remain history. History should not be discussed...Samajwadis have done so many progressive things, have said so many progressive things..."
Indrajeet Saroj on Tuesday reiterated his remarks questioning the role of Indian Gods and Goddesses during historical invasions by figures such as Muhammad Ghori.
Speaking to ANI, Saroj emphasised that the Gods and Goddesses of the country should have cursed the invaders and turned them into ashes.
"Our gods and goddesses were not that powerful. In 712 AD, Muhammad Bin Qasim came to this country from Arabia and looted the country. Muhammad Ghori came to this country to loot the place. So what did the gods and goddesses of this country do? They should have cursed the Muslims. They would turn into ashes, die, and become blind. It means that there is something that is lacking and our gods and goddesses are not that powerful," the Samajwadi Party MLA said.
On Monday, at an event in Uttar Pradesh, Saroj said that if India's temples had power, then invaders like Mohammad Bin Qasim, Mahmud Ghaznavi and Mohammad Ghori would not have come to the country.