Hanuman was world’s first tribal person, says BJP politician

Gyan Dev Ahuja, the BJP Member of the Legislative Assembly from Alwar has claimed that Hindu deity Hanuman was the first tribal person, reports the Times of India.

The Indian politician says he believes that tribal peoples revered the deity because he formed an army of indigenous peoples trained by Rama.

Ahuja said he was disturbed after seeing a photograph of Hanuman disrespected during the Apr 2 Bharat Bandh protest.

Ahuja said he had told BJP MP Kirori Lal Meena:

"You should be ashamed, you call yourself tribal and yet disrespect Hanumanji."

Hanuman was the first god of the tribal peoples, he said.

"I don't know why he was disrespected, it is unfortunate."

Ahuja had previously made headlines in February 2016 when he claimed that 3,000 condoms and 2,000 bottles of liquor were found at the Jawaharlal Nehru University campus every day, the Times of India says. In December 2017 he said that those involved in cow slaughter may also be killed in a similar manner.