NEW DELHI: AAP and BJP have again locked horns, this time over Ramayana.
Controversy erupted on Monday when AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal said at an election rally that Goddess Sita was abducted by Ravana, who disguised himself as a golden deer while Lord Rama went out in search of food. BJP leaders objected to his remarks. The leaders clarified that it was Maricha, not Ravana, who had taken the form of the deer to distract Rama.
Kejriwal responded to allegations by BJP. “On Monday, I stated that Ravana came disguised as a golden deer. Following this, the entire BJP is now protesting in front of my house, asking how I insulted Ravana. Why does BJP have so much affection for Ravana? It reflects its demonic tendencies,” Kejriwal said. Warning the underprivileged in Delhi, the AAP chief said: “If these people come to power, they will devour you like demons.”
On Tuesday morning, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva offered prayers at the Hanuman temple in Connaught Place, “seeking forgiveness for Kejriwal’s disrespect”. He also observed a symbolic fast. “It is regrettable that political Hindus like Kejriwal mention God in their election rallies but hurt Hindu sentiments by narrating inaccurate stories about our deities due to ignorance,” Sachdeva said.
Senior AAP leader Manish Sisodia wrote on X: “Arvind Kejriwal made a remark about Ravana during a jansabha and the entire BJP immediately jumped to Ravana’s defence as if they were his descendants. Their politics has stooped so low that they are now using symbols like Ravana to justify their false propaganda. I want to tell the people of Delhi to understand their true intentions. After the elections, they will prove to be a greater threat to the poor, labourers, and ‘jhuggi’ dwellers than Ravana himself.”
Sachdeva highlighted Kejriwal’s repeated references in election speeches from 2015 to 2023, where he shared “anecdotes about his grandmother lamenting the demolition of the Babri structure and his opposition to temple construction”. “This is the same Kejriwal whose anti-temple stance, rooted in his grandmother’s narrative, and his suggestion to replace temples with hospitals, will remain etched in the memory of the Hindu community.”
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Senior AAP leader and Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Singh said BJP’s only slogan was “Ravana is our ideal”. “I am astonished to see the entire BJP fasting and protesting, claiming that Arvind Kejriwal insulted Ravana. This clearly shows that the BJP considers Ravana its ancestor. Therefore, I appeal to the people of Delhi to remain vigilant,” he said.
