Akhilesh Yadav urges UP religious event organisers to avoid controversial storytellers
Uttar Pradesh national president of Samajwadi Party Akhilesh Yadav has urged event organizers and sponsors to refrain from sending the storytellers to the event who are controversial and stir against the society. He warned such statements have the potential to disrupt social harmony and those giving them a platform can also be subjected to social condemnation and backlash.
Akhilesh Yadav stated that the government and administration should stay away from the same story tellers who have been making controversial statements and organising and sponsoring them should also stay away from them. Some people dress up as religious storytellers and speak in the language of the religion, but they think religious discourses should be a business, he said.
The SP chief added that such people focus only on their material success and make stunning comments hoping for some cheap publicity. He said that instead of religion or spiritual values money has become the main motivation of such people.
Akhilesh Yadav added that controversial statements by storytellers will be protected politically, while the event organisers and sponsors would have to continue to live in the midst of the local people. They can then expect at least the wrath and criticism of the public about what they say at events they host.
He said that they could link people’s minds to the consent of the organiser and/or sponsor it, which would seriously harm their local reputation. These tensions have the potential to have social, economic and political impacts for the individuals involved, he said.
The president of the SP has advised the organizers that they should not invite people to form divisions between society and Sanatanism. I think giving any of those guys a platform to speak on this issue is enough to be considered to be participating in an act of religious disrespect,” he said.
Akshilesh Yadav, pointing to the presence of well-trained thinkers and speakers within the country, said there are several thinkers and speakers who understand the epics of religions, Vedic literature and Upanishads.
He called on the organisers and sponsors to invite scholars and sensitive speakers that use harmonious language, which is good for organizing a game of constructive discussion. Their knowledge and ideas can be used to enhance society and human life,” he said.