Politics

Kejriwal’s ‘Gods on notes’ appeal backfires; Congress, BJP slams AAP chief

Opposition does not seem impressed with Arvind Kejriwal's plea to include photos of Hindu deities Lakshmi and Ganesh on Indian currency notes

PGurus Newsdesk

October 26, 2022

Opposition does not seem impressed with Arvind Kejriwal's plea to include photos of Hindu deities Lakshmi and Ganesh on Indian currency notes

Opposition hits out at Kejriwal; says it’s an “election gimmick’

Soon after Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal demanded images of Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi on currency notes ahead of the Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat elections, the BJP hit out at Kejriwal saying that ‘Gods on currency notes’ plea is purely an “election gimmick’.

The BJP said that the AAP supremo is doing this for gaining political mileage ahead of the upcoming elections. The BJP further asked Kejriwal to focus on Delhi’s growing pollution and accused AAP of playing politics involving Hindu Gods.

After Kejriwal stirred controversy by stating that he will make an appeal to PM Modi to introduce fresh currency notes with Lord Ganesh and Goddess Laxmi’s images along with Mahatma Gandhi’s picture, Congress slammed Kejriwal and said, “Whenever he thinks he can get the votes by speaking about religion, he will start speaking about religion.”

Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit said, “He created a balloon in Gujarat that they (AAP) are doing well. But when the balloon started flattening, he thought of speaking communal talks in Gujarat. That’s why he is speaking about Ganeshji and Lakshmiji.”

Taking a jibe at Kejriwal, the Congress leader said, “If he thinks, he can get votes by speaking about religion, he will start speaking about religion… I fear that if he goes to Pakistan, he can also say ‘I am Pakistani please give me a vote‘.”

Meanwhile, BJP MP Manoj Tiwari termed AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal’s demand of Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi’s images on currency notes an “unsuccessful attempt” to hide his party’s “ugly anti-Hindu face” ahead of elections.

If Kejriwal really meant what he said then he should expel former Delhi minister Rajendra Pal Gautam and AAP’s Gujarat unit president Gopal Italia from the party for “speaking against Hindu deities”, Tiwari demanded.

“All such leaders… whether it’s (Rajendra Pal) Gautam or the AAP’s Gujarat unit president are still in the party.” Kejriwal, who has so far protected his party leaders who “insulted Hindu gods and goddesses is now trying to save his face in view of the elections,” Tiwari said.

BJP leader Sambit Patra also hit out at Kejriwal while addressing a press briefing. Patra said, “Kejriwal’s politics is now taking a U-turn. He’s the same man who declined to ever go to Ayodhya’s Ram Temple, claiming God won’t accept the prayers offered there. He’s the same man who laughed and called the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits a lie.”

Patra further added, “AAP leaders are serial Hindu haters. Arvind Kejriwal’s anti-Sanatan face is out in the open. On one side, you are abusing Gods, on the other side, you are playing politics? Your associates’ wrongdoings in excise policy will never be forgiven. God won’t forgive your liquor loot.”

During a media briefing on Wednesday, Kejriwal appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to have images of Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi on currency notes. He said, “Despite trying our best, sometimes our efforts do not fructify if the gods and goddesses are not blessing us. I appeal to PM (Modi) to have images of Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi on our currency (notes). If there is an image of Lakshmi-Ganesha on our currency (notes), our country will prosper. I will write to (the) Prime Minister in a day or two on this.”

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