Patna, October 19: Courting controversy, a BJP MLA in Bihar said Muslims do not worship the Hindu goddess of wealth, and still they are millionaires and billionaires, and the US is a superpower though people don't worship Lord Hanuman.

"Maa Saraswati is a goddess of education but Muslims do not worship her. Are they not scholars? Similarly, they do not worship Maa Lakshmi who is a goddess of wealth and money, are they not wealthy? Hanuman Ji is a god of power but he is not worshipped in America, still it is a superpower in the world," Lalan Paswan, the BJP MLA from Pipaiti assembly constituency in Bhagalpur district, said. Video: Karnataka BJP MLA Aravind Limbavali Misbehaves, Assaults Woman Who Approaches Him With Her Grievance.

Watch: Bihar BJP MLA Lalan Paswan Says ‘People Rich Without Worshipping Goddess Lakshmi’

"The entire thing is related to religious belief. If you believe, it is a goddess and if not, then it is just a statue of stone," he said. "It's up to us to have belief in god and goddess. We have to think scientifically on the basis of rationality to reach a logical conclusion," Paswan said.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 19, 2022 11:41 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).