Programme to be organised on first Tuesday, says MLA Saurabh Bhardwaj
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA from Greater Kailash Saurabh Bhardwaj has said recitation of “Sundar Kaand” (a chapter in Tulsidas’ Ramcharitmanas, which talks about Lord Hanuman’s visit to Lanka) will be held on the first Tuesday of every month in different areas of his constituency to seek the blessings of Lord Hanuman and Lord Ram.
Bhardwaj said advance bookings have been made and sponsors are ready for the scheduled programmes.
Speaking to PTI on the issue, Bhardwaj said he has the freedom to practise his religion.
“I am a Hindu. Arvind Kejriwal is a Hindu. Nobody can deny this fact. I have religious freedom. If I am getting Sundar Kaand recital done, it does not make me less progressive. Being progressive does not mean you are an atheist,” he said.
The AAP leader said he was “just following his faith” and have been doing it for long.
“Today there is no election so it should not be seen as a political thing. The controversy was started after the BJP questioned the Chief Minister’s visit to Hanuman mandir, although the temple priest came on record to say he (Kejriwal) has been visiting the temple for years,” he said.
Also, Bhardwaj targeted the BJP and Congress leaders, saying they may be fuming but should be happy to be a part of “Sundar Kaand Paath” irrespective of their religion.
Meanwhile, Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor hit out at the AAP, saying its attachment towards Lord Hanuman was not a matter of religious faith, but a “political melodrama”.
“We expect that the Aam Aadmi Party which used to play politics in favour of a particular religious community will now work for all the religious communities of the society during the next five years,” said another BJP spokesperson Ashok Goel Devraha.
Former Delhi Government media adviser Nagendar Sharma also termed Bhardwaj’s announcement as “disappointing”. “Disappointed to see a competent legislator with progressive outlook fall into the fallacious trap of trying to outdo BJP in its game,” he tweeted.
Sharma, however, later deleted the tweet, saying it was leading to rumours and “unnecessary interpretations”.
“My tweet was a suggestion in good faith to my very close friend @Saurabh_MLAgk, whom I consider as my younger brother, but since it was leading to rumours and unnecessary interpretation, I have deleted it,” he said on Twitter.
Party national convener Kejriwal’s frequent visit to Hanuman Temple during his election campaign was trolled by the BJP leaders and its social media team. Kejriwal had also recited ‘Hanuman Chalisa’ during a TV programme earlier this month.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had said during a poll rally, “Now Kejriwal has started reciting the ‘Hanuman Chalisa’. In coming days, you will see Owaisi reciting the same. This will certainly happen”. Delhi BJP unit president Manoj Tiwari had called Kejriwal a “nakli bhakt” (fake worshipper).
