BJP Critiques Kejriwal's Misrepresentation of Raavan in Ramayana
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Synopsis
On January 21, the BJP strongly criticized Arvind Kejriwal for his misrepresentation of a character from the Ramayana during election season. They labeled him as an 'Adharmi' and an 'election-driven Hindu,' igniting tensions ahead of the Delhi Assembly elections.
Key Takeaways
- BJP labels Kejriwal as 'Adharmi.'
- Accusations of manipulating Hindu scriptures for votes.
- Kejriwal's comments lead to political backlash.
- Call for apologies from AAP leaders by BJP.
- Controversy highlights tensions ahead of elections.
New Delhi, Jan 21 (NationPress) The BJP on Tuesday launched a fierce criticism against AAP national convenor and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over his inaccurate portrayal of the demonic figure from the Ramayana, branding him as "Adharmi" (one who does not follow the rightful path) and an "election-driven Hindu."
This confrontation arises just two weeks prior to the Delhi Assembly elections, with tensions escalating between the ruling AAP and the BJP.
In a statement to IANS, BJP MP Yongender Chandoliya accused Kejriwal of being uninformed about Hindu traditions, asserting, "Kejriwal is oblivious to Lord Ram or Hanuman. He is only familiar with how to pray in a mosque and which cap to don there."
Chandoliya further claimed that Kejriwal disrespected Mata Sita, labeling him as "Adharmi" and accusing him of consistently showing disregard for Hindu beliefs.
During an election rally, Kejriwal recounted a tale from the Ramayana concerning Sita's abduction by Raavan.
"Ramchandra ji ventured into the forest to gather food after instructing Laxman to care for Sita. Raavan, masquerading as a golden deer, enticed Sita. These BJP leaders are akin to that golden deer. Avoid their trap," he stated.
In a sharp rebuttal, BJP MP Manoj Tiwari accused Kejriwal of distorting and misquoting Hindu scriptures for political advantage.
"In election season, Kejriwal frequents Hanuman temples to portray himself as a Hindu. Yet, his remarks reveal his ignorance of the Ramayana. Had he read the Ramcharitmanas, he would not have made such statements," Tiwari told IANS.
In defense of Kejriwal, senior AAP leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia argued that the BJP was exploiting Raavan to mislead voters.
"Their political tactics have sunk so low that they defend Raavan and distort statements to deceive the public. I implore the people of Delhi to recognize their true agenda, which is to seize power at any price," Sisodia expressed in a post on X.
However, Tiwari demanded an apology from Manish Sisodia, accusing him of disrespecting Mata Sita.
"Sisodia must apologize immediately; otherwise, the entire Kshatriya community will not forgive him," he warned.
BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal condemned Kejriwal's comments as "election-driven" and offensive.
"Kejriwal's remarks are regrettable and demonstrate he has never engaged with ancient scriptures. Sanatan Dharma is the essence of our nation, and such comments are intolerable," Khandelwal remarked to IANS.
"He perceives everything through an election-driven lens. This is why he generates confusion with erroneous statements," Khandelwal added.
Echoing similar views, BJP MLA and Leader of Opposition in the Delhi Assembly, Vijender Gupta, labeled Kejriwal as an "election-driven Hindu" and questioned his comprehension of the Ramayana.
"It is truly unfortunate that these election-driven Hindus lack understanding of the Ramayana. Those who cannot even spell Ramayana propagate such confusion. Their misunderstanding of the Ramayana underscores their limited knowledge," Gupta commented.
The controversy centers around the Ramayana episode where Maricha, a demon disguised as a golden deer, leads to Sita's abduction by Raavan.
