Samajwadi Party leader Shivraj Singh Yadav’s controversial statement has once again stirred the political waters in Uttar Pradesh. In December 2025, during a PDA Pathshala program held in Didhiyamai village of Sirsa Ganj assembly constituency in Firozabad, Yadav rejected Hindu identity, stating, “I am not a Hindu, I am a Yadav,” and spoke sharply against caste-based discrimination.

Shivraj Singh Yadav said he does not follow any religion that demeans individuals based on birth or caste. Citing the Manusmriti, he questioned the varna system, saying, “We are not Brahmins, we are not Kshatriyas, we are not Vaishyas — only Shudras remain.” According to him, adopting such religious and social structures is difficult when they deprive humans of equal rights.

He further stated that following Hinduism is “not necessary” and described himself as “first a human being.” He alleged that the current BJP-led central and Uttar Pradesh governments commit the most atrocities against Dalits, backward classes, and minorities, with power concentrated in the hands of a few old groups, while nearly 90 percent of the population remains outside governance on the basis of caste and religion.

Yadav’s statement has sparked a political controversy. BJP leaders have accused him of trying to “break Hindu unity” and questioned the policies of the Samajwadi Party. In response, Shivraj Singh Yadav defended himself, claiming that his statement was “taken out of context” and is part of “malicious propaganda.”

Analysts say such remarks could further heat up the political climate ahead of upcoming elections, especially since caste-based politics and identity issues already hold significant sway in Uttar Pradesh’s political landscape.