There is a stir in the politics of Uttar Pradesh due to two comments which have gone viral on social media in the last few days.
Samajwadi Party seems aggressive on both these issues, while Bharatiya Janata Party seems a little uneasy.
The first comment is from Hindu religious leader Dhirendra Shastri, known by his followers as Bageshwar Baba. The second comment is from Sangeet Ragi, a professor of political science at Delhi University and associated with the RSS.
Dhirendra Shastri had made controversial remarks comparing Lord Ram and Krishna. At the same time, Sangeet Ragi had used objectionable and caste based words for Samajwadi Party spokesperson Manoj Yadav Kaka during a live debate on a TV channel.
However, Sangeet Ragi later clarified and apologized and said that his comment was not for any particular community. At the same time, Dhirendra Shastri has also apologized for his remarks.
But Samajwadi Party is continuously attacking both of them.
Dhirendra Shastri's Katha program is proposed from 17th November in Kunda, UP. Akhilesh Yadav is demanding cancellation of these programs.
Earlier, Samajwadi Party workers had filed a complaint at Hazratganj police station in Lucknow on Wednesday to register an FIR against Dhirendra Shastri.
At the same time, SP spokesperson Manoj Yadav demonstrated in support of 'Kaka' and tried to burn the effigy of Sangeet Ragi.
Many leaders of opposition parties have also reacted to these statements. These include Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav, Aam Aadmi Party leader Sanjay Singh, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav and Purnia MP Pappu Yadav.
There is also a political challenge in front of BJP regarding these two statements and the proposed programs of Shastri. Especially because assembly elections are to be held in Uttar Pradesh and Samajwadi Party may try to make these issues a part of the election debate.
A senior leader of the Samajwadi Party, on the condition of anonymity, told BBC that both the comments are absolutely wrong. He said that the party will continue to raise these issues even during the elections.
At the same time, BJP spokesperson Rakesh Tripathi says that there is a need to avoid such statements. According to him, "This does not suit them at all. But did the Samajwadi Party leaders not comment on Brahmins, Kshatriyas and Vaishyas? Did they not insult them? Regional people are insulted every day. Samajwadi Party is trying to divide Hindus. But we are confident that Hindus will not divide and will remain with BJP."
Senior journalist Sunita Aron believes that Dhirendra Shastri's comments should not be seen only from the perspective of political gain or loss to the Samajwadi Party. She says, "Is Dhirendra Shastri also trying to divide God on the basis of caste? This question is not about political benefit to the Samajwadi Party, but it hurts Krishna devotees."
Senior journalist Vinod Sharma also agrees with this. He says that BJP has been trying to break into the traditional Yadav vote bank of Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh for a long time. In such a situation, Dhirendra Shastri's comment about Lord Krishna can also pose a challenge to this strategy of BJP.
BJP's efforts to reach out to the Yadav community in Uttar Pradesh are not new. After coming to power in UP in 2017, the then Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya had said that till now the party was focusing on non-Yadav OBCs, but now it will focus on Yadavs also.
A person who understands BJP's politics said on the condition of anonymity that the more the debate between Lord Ram and Krishna increases, the more BJP will benefit. BJP spokesperson Naveen Srivastava said, "Now that elections are approaching, Akhilesh Yadav and Tejashwi Yadav have suddenly started remembering Lord Krishna."
Senior journalist Neerja Chaudhary questions this strategy of BJP. He believes that these statements can further unite the Yadav vote bank.
