Sakshi Maharaj faces massive backlash from Muslim community for 'population control' remark

Lucknow/New Delhi, [India], Jan. 7 (ANI): Following Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP, Sakshi Maharaj recent shocker blaming Muslims for population boom in the nation, the minority community has come down heavily on the controversial leader attacking him for his 'irresponsible' remark. "Population is increased by those who support the concept of four wives and 40 children," Maharaj had said which immediately triggered a national outrage. Commenting on the statement, Maulana Yasoob Abbas, a Muslim Cleric in Lucknow said, "This is a very derogatory statement and nothing can be done to compensate it. On one side Prime Minister Narendra Modi talks about the development of entire society and on the other side Sakshi Maharaj, a member of BJP, is making such demeaning remarks which doesn't suit his position. Also he is a saint, a Maharaj". Abbas further said that no religious community in the nation wants a communal division, adding that there won't be casting of votes in the name of religion. "It will be solely on the basis on development and progress. Whoever is working for the people will get the votes and who has kept the state blindfolded will get the results", Abbas told ANI. Berating the BJP MP for his "unfortunate and irresponsible remark", the cleric asserted that he will raise the issue with the concerned authorities. Expressing similar emotions, Mohd. Afzal, President of Rastriya Muslim Manch, said, "I haven't seen a man who has 4 wives. May be Sakshi Maharaj would have seen one. I would request all the political parties to not use such remarks relating to religion in order to create disputes". Meanwhile, an FIR has been registered against Sakshi Maharaj for his remark. This is not the first time that an FIR has been registered against him. He was the main accused in the murder of Dwivedi, a close associate of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpajee. The swami, who holds the title of "Acharya Mahamandaleshwar of Nirmal Panchayati Akhada", was caught in a sting operation on MPs in 2005. He was among the 11 MPs who were caught on tape talking about misuse of MP Local Area Development Funds and expelled from the Rajya Sabha in March 2006. Sakshi was also said to be complicit in murder of his close associate Sujata Verma. It came as a surprise to many within the BJP when Sakshi was given a ticket, on the recommendation of Amit Shah, in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.(ANI)