UP CM Yogi invites trouble by calling Lord Hanuman "Dalit"; gets legal notice

A right-wing group in Rajasthan sent a legal notice to UP CM Yogi Adityanath asking him to apologise within three days for his controversial remark.

UP CM Yogi Adityanath (PTI)

New Delhi: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath courted a huge controversy as he allegedly called Hindu God Hanuman a “Dalit”, prompting a right-wing group in Rajasthan to send him a legal notice. The notice has asked Adityanath to apologise within three days for his controversial remark. Though Adityanath was singing praises to Lord Hanuman during a poll rally in Malakheda of Alwar district, his choice of words landed him in trouble. Adityanath had said on Tuesday, "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". "This was his resolve as it was Lord Ram's wish. Just like him, we should also not rest till we fulfil that wish," he added. He also said that the people of the district would vote for 'Ram bhakts' and not 'Ravana'. Adityanath’s statement drew flak from some Hindu groups. Rajasthan Sarv Brahmin Mahasabha president Suresh Mishra has sent a notice to the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister. He accused the UP CM of dragging lord Hanuman’s caste for political gains of BJP in the poll-bound state of Rajasthan. Congress leader Pramod Tiwari also slammed BJP for Adityanath’s remarks saying that now the BJP had come to divide gods into castes. Adityanath has been on a campaigning spree for BJP and its nominees in the state.