Swami Prasad Maurya
Swami Prasad Maurya (born 2 January 1954) is an Indian politician belonging to the Rashtriya Shoshit Samaj Party (RSSP), which he founded in 2024. He was a member of the Samajwadi Party (SP) from 2022 to 2024 and a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from 2016 to 2022.
Quotes
[edit]- Offering prayers to Goddess Lakshmi might be a tradition, but this is miles away from practicality. Had praying to Goddess Lakshmi made one rich, India would not have been one of the poor nations in the world. 80 crore people in the country still lead a life of poverty.
- On the efficacy of prayers in eradicating poverty, as quoted in "Swami Prasad Maurya's 'Not Practical' Remark On Lakshmi Puja Sparks Row". 22 October 2025.
- I want to make it clear once again that I am not against any religion or caste. If anyone says that I am anti-Brahmin, then they should show me my statement against Brahmins. However, no one has the right to insult Dalits, tribals, backwards and women in the garb of religion. Whenever there will be a statement against Dalits, backwards or women, then I would stand in front of them.
- On being accused of being anti-Brahmin, as quoted "I oppose casteist system, not Brahmins: SP Maurya". Hindustan Times. 25 August 2025.
- I have worked with SP founder Mulayam Singh Yadav as well. But now those who are taking forward his legacy are not handling the socialist values appropriately. I will continue to raise my voice against those in power and forces who deprive Backward classes, Dalits, poor and the minorities.
- On quitting Samajwadi Party, as quoted in "Swami Prasad Maurya quits SP over 'ideological differences', to float new political outfit". The Times of India. 21 February 2024.
- Every child born in every religion, caste, race, colour and country of the whole world has two hands, two legs, two ears, two eyes and a nose with two holes. There is only a head, stomach and back. If a child with four hands, eight hands, ten hands, twenty hands and a thousand hands has not been born till date, then how can Lakshmi be born with four hands?
- On Hindu goddess Lakshmi, as quoted in "How can Goddess Lakshmi be born with four hands: Swami Prasad Maurya; Pramod Krishnam says he's sick, netizens fume". ETV Bharat. 13 November 2023.
- If you want to worship Goddess Lakshmi, then worship and respect your wife who is a goddess in true sense because she fulfils the responsibility of nurturing, happiness, prosperity, food and care of your family with great devotion.
- Proposing that men should worship their wives instead of goddess Lakshmi, as quoted in "Why Lakshmi has 4 hands, asks SP's Maurya; draws sharp rebuke from party". Rediff. 13 November 2023.
- I don’t have any issue with Ramcharitramanas but parts of it have insulting comments and sarcasm directed at particular castes and sects. Those should be removed.
- On discriminatory sections of the Ramcharitmanas, as quoted in "Swami Prasad Maurya’s remarks on Ramcharitmanas should be discussed, not objected to, says daughter Sanghamitra Maurya". The Print. 26 January 2023.
