Ramcharitmanas Row: SP Expels Roli Tiwari, Richa Singh After They Oppose Swami Prasad Maurya's Comments

Roli Tiwari tweeted the video of Swami Prasad Maurya on her Twitter and wrote, Swami Prasad says that if the Samajwadi Party government is elected, Ramcharitmanas will be banned.

Samajwadi Party leaders Richa Singh, Swami Prasad Maurya and Roli Tiwari Mishra

Source : Insta/PTI/FB

New Delhi: Samajwadi Party leaders Roli Tiwari Mishra and Richa Singh were expelled from the party on Tursday. The move by the party leadership came shortly after they voiced their opposition against Swami Prasad Maurya, who allegedly made objectionable comments on the Ramcharitamanas.

Roli Tiwari tweeted the video of Swami Prasad Maurya on her Twitter and wrote, Swami Prasad says that if the Samajwadi Party government is elected, Ramcharitmanas will be banned.

SP leader Maurya had said Ramcharitamanas, written by Tulsidas in the 17th century, promoted social discrimination and spread hatred.

“Religion is meant for the welfare of humanity and for strengthening it. If there is any insult to a section of society due to certain lines in the Ramcharitamanas on the basis of ‘jaati’, ‘varn’ and ‘varg’, then it is certainly not ‘dharma’, it is ‘adharma’. There are certain lines in which names of castes such as ‘teli’ and ‘kumhaar’ are mentioned,” the leader had said.

Meanwhile, Richa Singh has reacted sharply in a series of Tweets, saying, "I stood and will stand with the spiritual and constitutional soul of India."

संविधान के भाग 3,फंडामेंटल राइट पृष्ठ की शुरुआत भगवान राम लक्ष्मण और भगवती सीता के चित्र से होती है । राम भारत की आत्मा हैं । यहाँ तक कि अल्लामा इक़बाल ने उनको इमामे हिंद माना है । ऐसे में भारत की आध्यात्मिक एवं संवैधानिक आत्मा के साथ मैं खड़ी थी और खड़ी रहूँगी ।@yadavakhilesh

— Dr.Richa Singh (@RichaSingh_Alld) February 16, 2023

Swami Prasad Maurya drew flak for his alleged objectionable remarks on Ramcharitmanas. The controversy is reportedly creating internal divisions within the party. Some upper-caste SP legislators earlier voiced their objections to Maurya's statement and even threatened to leave the party if action was not taken against him. 

MLA from Amethi Rakesh Pratap Singh said that anyone who questioned Sanatan Dharma cannot be a Samajwadi. He also stated that he would continue to oppose those who make derogatory comments against Lord Ram and Lord Krishna.

Roli Mishra Tiwari spoke out against Maurya's remarks, stating that as a follower of Sanatan Dharma, she would not accept what Maurya said. Tiwari also voiced her fears of an attack on her and her family for coming out in support of Ramcharitmanas. She requested protection from Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Both Singh and Tiwari claimed that the party leadership was supporting Maurya on the issue, and they are upset that the party is backing a casteist benefit and insulting religion. These internal divisions are now a cause for concern for the Samajwadi Party as they head into the upcoming elections.