New Delhi, Jan. 6 -- Samajwadi Party leader Shivraj Singh Yadav sparked controversy with his "Yadavs are not Hindus" comment as he slammed the caste system and criticised how it puts Shudras at the bottom of the hierarchy.

He rejected the Hindu identity due to the caste-based discrimination in Hindu texts, citing the scripture, Manusmriti.

"I do not follow a religion that treats a human being as lower than a dog," he said.

Yadav, a close aide of Akhilesh Yadav, was addressing a public meeting called "PDA Patshala" in the Dandiyamai village of Sirsaganj Assembly Constituency in Uttar Pradesh, an event for Dalits, backward classes, and minorities.

"Brahmin, we are not. Kshatriya, we are not. Vaishya, we are not. Now, which one is left? ...