Arvind Kejriwal’s request to the government that the pictures of Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi be placed on currency notes
In response to Arvind Kejriwal’s request to the government that the pictures of Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi be placed on currency notes, the BJP hurried to launch an attack against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) president and Delhi Chief Minister.
In private, BJP insiders acknowledged that Kejriwal had pulled off a brilliant move while they were on the back foot due to certain comments made by AAP leaders that the BJP had criticised as being “anti-Hindu” in the face of an aggressive AAP in the Gujarat elections.
Sambit Patra and Manoj Tiwari criticised the AAP leader’s proposal
Sambit Patra, the BJP’s national spokesperson, named instances in which Kejriwal had been “anti-Hindu” and Manoj Tiwari, the party’s Delhi MP, both criticised the AAP leader’s proposal as an “unsuccessful attempt” to mask his party’s “ugly anti-Hindu face” ahead of elections.
Shahnawaz Hussain, a BJP leader and former minister for Bihar, claimed that Kejriwal is attempting to “sideline Mahatma Gandhi,” while Amit Malaviya, the head of the party’s IT unit, referred to him as “a Hindu bigot.”
Party leaders acknowledged that their statements might not mean much, given that the BJP has a history of being skilled at manipulating perception. It’s true that Kejriwal has taken the BJP by surprise, a senior BJP leader stated. AAP seeks to disprove any of the BJP’s accusations against it, including that it is Left-liberal, anti-Hindu, or an urban Naxalite.
Additionally, the leader noted that Kejriwal “is trying to put himself and the AAP squarely against the BJP and its leadership” with such actions.
Another leader emphasized the situation the BJP was in, calling Kejriwal’s remarks “unreasonable”. “Kejriwal may make any such foolish appeal since he lacks the accountability of a national party. But, in order to maintain its reputation as the party that supports Hinduism, the BJP must respond.
Patra mentioned the Delhi government’s ban on firecrackers, AAP politician Rajendra Pal Gautam swearing an oath rejecting Hindu gods and goddesses during a conversion event, and former AAP leader Tahir Hussain’s suspected involvement in the Delhi riots as examples of the AAP’s “anti-Hindu” actions. Although, Gautam resigned as a minister after the argument, according to Patra, this was an “eyewash” because he was still a member of the AAP.
According to Patra, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already received the blessings of Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi due to his dedication and hard work. Because of this, our economic growth has climbed in the past ten years from the 11th to 15th largest in the world.
Manoj Tiwari also mentioned Gautam and Gopal Italia, the leader of the AAP in Gujarat, who was seen in an old video asking women to avoid religious gatherings because they were designed to suppress them. All of these politicians are still in the party, according to Tiwari, who also noted that after defending them, Kejriwal “is now attempting to save his reputation in light of the elections.” “Without even a note from you, we constructed the Ram temple and built the Mahakal corridor in Ujjain”, he added.
Hussain questioned whether Kejriwal’s demand for banknotes was really an effort to supplant Mahatma Gandhi’s image. “Kejriwal is the only chief minister to have successfully removed images of Mahatma Gandhi from government buildings. Gujaratis will now get his strategy, said Hussain.
In the past, AAP had successfully deflected BJP attacks by shifting the focus
Changing the perspective has helped AAP successfully deflect BJP attacks in the past. The BJP was forced to respond to the AAP’s successful education program after it was depicted by the AAP as a plot against it by investigative agencies, undermining its reputation as an anti-corruption force.
Kejriwal has proven to be a quick learner, whether it is nationalism or Hindutva, and has changed his ideological clothing as he competes for a national position, according to BJP insiders. This comes at a time when the BJP led by Modi is criticising the “revdi culture” and at the same time the AAP’s governing approach and open endorsement of populist / welfare initiatives.
Kejriwal is unlikely to get any support with such steps in Gujarat and Himachal, according to BJP leaders. In the upcoming elections, this party has nothing to lose. For AAP, anything would be a benefit. But Kejriwal is attempting to take the initiative in establishing the conversation, according to a source.
Read More: BJP targets AAP in Gujarat over cracker ban in Delhi
