In a shocking statement, AAP leader and Delhi’s Social welfare minister Rajendra Pal Gautam on Thursday stoked a controversy after he made anti-Hindu remarks. He claims that Lord Krishna and Lord Ram have no historical proof.
Commenting on the tweet of Yoga Guru Swami Ramdev Baba, Rajendra Gautam made anti-Hindu remarks by stating that Lord Krishna and Lord Ram found no mention in history textbooks, but only in mythology. He added that as Periyar’s ideology was found in history texts, it was based on reason and authenticity.
He wrote, “If it is a fact that Ram and Krishna were your ancestors, then why are they not studied in history books? Ancestors have history, but there is no proof that they existed but Periyar ji and his views are based on reason and authenticity”.
Gautam’s shocking statements in response to Baba Ramdev’s recent tweet in which Yoga Guru had stated that he shares immense respect for leaders like Ambedkar, Jyotiba Phule, Savitribai Phule, Sant Ravidas, Maharshi Valmiki. He also added that these individuals were not only the leaders of the deprived class but also for the entire nation.
Defending his earlier statements calling followers of Periyar as ‘ideological terrorists’, Baba Ramdev said that Periyar’s ideologies were against Hindu culture and mythology as he had made objectionable comments on Hindu gods Lord Ram and Lord Krishna. Ramdev stated that how can I defend someone who has shown so much contempt to Hindu values and culture.
Ramdev claimed he opposed Periyar logically for the latter’s claim that the “Ramayana, the Mahabharata, Lord Ram and Lord Krishna were false”.
आदरणीय श्रीआंबेडकरजी, ज्योतिबा फुलेजी,सावित्रीबाईजी, संत रविदासजी और महर्षि वाल्मीकिजी हमारे आदर्श हैं,
पेरियार जी का भगवान राम,श्रीकृष्ण अपने पूर्वजों के प्रति जो दृष्टिकोण है उससे कोई भी अपने पूर्वजों के प्रति श्रद्धा रखने वाला व्यक्ति सहमत नहीं हो सकता.https://t.co/aOd52JKP11— स्वामी रामदेव (@yogrishiramdev) November 21, 2019
The shocking comments made by AAP minister did not go well on social media as various users countered Gautam and his party for making anti-Hindu comments and hurting religious sentiments of the public. As the backlash continued, the AAP minister deleted the tweet.
Later, AAP minister Rajendra Pal Gautam refuted such allegations and said he did not issue any such statements. He claimed that somebody has misused or hacked his twitter handle and tweeted against religious leaders to harm his party in the upcoming elections.
Somebody has misused or hacked my twitter handle and tweeted something on religious Icons to harm my Party at the time of election, I will see the ways to take steps in this regards. Everyone has right to have faith in their Icons and I respect everyone’s faith.
— Rajendra Pal Gautam (@AdvRajendraPal) November 22, 2019
In an interview to Republic TV, Baba Ramdev had criticised the atheist approach of Periyar and his followers, calling its antithetical to the Indian ethos. Ramdev had stated, “Periyar followers say that people who follow gods are fools, those who worship him are miscreants, and that God is the devil.”
While describing himself as a supporter of Ambedkar for insisting on equality before the law, Ramdev had criticised his followers for insisting that Dalits and tribals were the original inhabitants of India.
Soon, the leftists and followers of Periyar ganged up to protest against Baba Ramdev and even demanded the arrest of Baba Ramdev. On social media, they also ran trends such as #BoycottPatanjali #ArrestRamdev, #BoycottPatanjaliProducts and #RamdevInsultsPeriyar.
