New Delhi, July 16 (IANS) A controversy erupted after a viral video showed Maulana Jarjis Ansari claiming that Lord Krishna was a Muslim and offered namaz five times a day, with Hindu saints and right-wing groups launching a scathing attack on the Muslim cleric.

Maulana Ansari further drew the ire of the seers for reportedly reciting a verse from the Bhagavad Gita in order to support his claim.

Reacting on the cleric’s remarks, Mahamandaleshwar Vishnu Das said: “A Maulana has claimed that Lord Krishna was a Muslim and offered namaz. Whoever cuts off his tongue will be rewarded with Rs 10 lakh. He has hurt the religious sentiments of Lord Krishna’s devotees. He does not know even a single word of Sanskrit and is misinterpreting verses from the Bhagavad Gita.”

Mahant Nirmal Giri of Agra’s Kailash Mahadev Temple said Maulana Ansari always makes such “nonsensical statements” wherever he gives speeches, especially among the Muslim community.

“He (Maulana Jarjis Ansari) has created a kind of propaganda about how to attack Sanatan Dharma and keeps creating such an atmosphere,” the saint told IANS.

Nirmal Giri echoed, saying: “The Maulana does not have any knowledge of Shrimad Bhagwat Gita and neither about Lord Krishna.”

Peethadheeshwar of Tapasvi Chhawani Jagadguru Paramhans Acharya also said: “The statement made by Maulana Jarjis is baseless, without evidence, inhumane, and capable of disturbing peace in the country.”

Taking the criticism further, Saint Deveshacharya ji Maharaj said: “The Maulana has lost his mind that is why he is making such absurd statements. He knows nothing about Lord Krishna, who is revered as ‘Vande Jagadgurum’. If he had said that Lord Krishna was his ancestor or someone he admired, that could have been understood. But claiming that Lord Krishna recited the ‘Kalma’ and offered namaz is a very unfortunate statement. Such remarks only serve to spread unrest.”

Vishva Hindu Parishad national spokesperson Vinod Bansal said: “Maulana Jarjis and such people have been red-faced many times before, but they feel no shame. It seems some other arrangement will have to be made for them by the government and the administration.”

Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha national spokesperson Shishir Chaturvedi added: “No one dares to speak against the Quran or Prophet Muhammad, because slogans of ‘Sar Tan Se Juda’ are raised immediately. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s government will appear weak if no action is taken in this matter.”

“Akhilesh Yadav, Lord Krishna is your ancestor according to your lineage, say something on this,” he told IANS, while referring to the Samajwadi Party Chief.

Addressing Akhilesh Yadav, Chaturvedi said: “Please leave this kind of appeasement otherwise Sanatanis will stop looking at you. You don’t win only due to the votes of Yadav and Muslim community. ‘Sanatanis’ also vote for you…you spoke so much on the Ram Temple row, now address this issue as well.”

Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad President Mahant Ravindra Puri also appealed to the government to take strict action against such “misleading” statements.

–IANS

cg/khz