Prophet Mohammed is a great yogi: Sakshi Maharaj

BJP MP declares himself to be a “true Muslim.”

By Dileep Thekkethil

BENGALURU: The outspoken BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj has once again got into controversy, saying that a true Muslim and Prophet Mohammed are the best practitioners of yoga.

In a video that appeared on IBNLive, the BJP MP from Unnao, Utter Pradesh was heard saying “Mohammed is the biggest name in Islam and I think Mohammed Saab is a great yogi.”

He added “The one with ‘iman’ is a true Muslim. I am a true Muslim.”

This is not that first time that Sakshi Maharaj is making a statement that smacks of religious intolerance. Earlier, he had slashed out at Uttar Pradesh Minister Azam Khan, who apparently went into a verbal duel with Yogi Adityanath. Maharaj, who was asked to comment on the issue during a public event, advised  Khan, a senior member of the ruling Samajwadi Party, to say ‘Jai Shri Ram’.

The BJP MP was quoted by PTI saying, “Azam is one person, who never speaks the truth. He is advising Yogi Adiyanath to offer namaz.”

He added that the veteran SP leader was taking Muslims in his state for a ride. “We people belong to Indian culture, where there is no difference between Allah, Bhagwan or God. We can say Allah-o-Akbar, if Azam has courage then he should say Jai Shri Ram,” he said.

The whole controversy erupted after the government decided to celebrate June 21 as the World Yoga Day. Several Muslim leaders and organizations have expressed their reluctance in performing Surya Namaskar in schools during the June 21 event. Maharaj, reacting to this, said those who objected to the Surya Namaskar must drown themselves in the sea.

Due to mounting criticism, the BJP government dropped Surya Namaskar from the performance planned across schools in the country on June 21.

Earlier during the year, Maharaj said all Hindu women should at least produce four children. He said “the concept of four wives and 40 children will not work in India and the time has come when a Hindu woman must produce at least four children in order to protect Hindu religion.”

He also made provocative comments on the Ram Mandir issue, commenting, “No power on earth can stop the construction of Ram mandir in Ayodhya. It will be constructed, come what may.”