Lucknow: A week after tendering his resignation from the post of Samajwadi Party national general secretary, Swami Prasad Maurya on Tuesday resigned from the party’s primary membership and the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council.
“I got an opportunity to work with you. But after our talks on February 12 and my resignation (as national general secretary) on February 13, no initiative of any talks with me was taken due to which I am resigning from the primary membership of the party,” Maurya said in a letter to party chief Akhilesh Yadav.
He shared the letter on his social media handles.
In a separate letter to the chairman of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council, Maurya said, “I was elected as a Samajwadi Party member in the legislative council. As I have resigned from the primary membership of the party, I am also resigning as MLC (member of legislative council) on the basis of morality,” he said.
Maurya resigned as the party’s national general secretary on February 13, accusing the leadership of discriminating against him and not defending him over his controversial statements on the Ramcharitmanas and the Ayodhya temple consecration ceremony.
Row over Ramcharitmanas
Last year, Uttar Pradesh police initiated legal action against Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Swami Prasad Maurya following his contentious remarks concerning the Ramcharitmanas.
Maurya’s comments ignited controversy as he asserted the existence of millions of individuals who have not read or do not engage with the Ramcharitmanas.
He went on to say that Dalits got the opportunity to read and write during the British colonial period. He also said that women gained literacy rights under British rule.
(With inputs from agencies)
