AAP Minister Rajendra Gautam Resigns After Controversy Over His Alleged Denigration of Hindu Deities

GG News Bureau

New Delhi, 10^th Oct. Rajendra Pal Gautam, an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) minister who was at the center of a political controversy for allegedly participating in an event in which a sizable gathering purportedly took oath denouncing Hindu deities and embraced Buddhism, resigned from his ministerial post on Sunday.

आज महर्षि वाल्मीकि जी का प्रकटोत्सव दिवस है एवं दूसरी ओर मान्यवर कांशीराम साहेब की पुण्यतिथि भी है। ऐसे संयोग में आज मैं कई बंधनों से मुक्त हुआ और आज मेरा नया जन्म हुआ है। अब मैं और अधिक मज़बूती से समाज पर होने वाले अत्याचारों व अधिकारों की लड़ाई को बिना किसी बंधन के जारी रखूँगा pic.twitter.com/buwnHYVgG8

— Rajendra Pal Gautam (@AdvRajendraPal) October 9, 2022

Gautam is the Delhi government’s portfolio holder for social welfare and SC/ST welfare.

Gautam, 54, wrote in his resignation letter, which he shared on Twitter, that he was “hurt” by the way the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been “targeting” the AAP and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over the issue. He also mentioned receiving threats over the phone but did not provide specifics.

On 5 October, the Delhi social welfare minister was captured on camera attending a religious conversion program at Ambedkar Bhavan in central Delhi’s Karol Bagh, which was attended by hundreds of Hindus, mostly from the Dalit community. Gautam appeared on stage as attendees allegedly denounced deities such as Vishnu, Shiva, Brahma, Rama, Krishna, Gauri, and Ganpati.

The BJP has confronted the AAP over Gautam’s participation in the event, accusing the AAP of infringing on Hindu religious sentiments.

According to two senior AAP leaders, the incident has put the party in a difficult position, particularly ahead of the Gujarat elections. The AAP does not want to engage in caste politics and sees electoral benefits in sticking to its core strategy of emphasizing the Delhi governance model, which focuses on development and welfare.

So far, the AAP has not issued an official statement on the matter.

Manoj Tiwari, a member of parliament, described the incident as an intentional attempt to foment riots.

He said, “Buddhists are non-violent people, but what the AAP minister is doing is an attempt to spread hatred in the community.”

“His (Gautam’s) comments highlight the AAP’s hatred for Hindus,” said BJP national spokesperson Gautam Bhatia.

Gautam responded by saying there was nothing wrong with him if he believed in Hinduism. “The Constitution of India gives us the freedom to follow any religion. The BJP is losing ground and it is afraid of the Aam Aadmi Party,” he said

Later, he softened his tone and said, ““I am a deeply religious person. I personally respect all gods and goddesses and would not even dream of insulting any deity through any action or word of mine.”

The minister claimed that in his speech at the event, he addressed issues such as education, health, employment, price increases, and social equality, but that BJP leaders were spreading “rumors” about him.

“I am deeply hurt by this mischief and seek an apology with folded hands from anyone who has been hurt in any way due to such propaganda by the BJP,” he said in the statement.

In his resignation letter on Sunday, Gautam said he participated in the 5 October event in “personal capacity”. “However, the BJP has been targeting the AAP and our leader Arvind Kejriwal in connection with the matter and that hurts me. I have deep respect for Mr Arvind Kejriwal and I shall always be grateful to him. His politics that focuses on education, healthcare, power, water, employment, women security, etc tends to take forward B.R. Ambedkar’s larger vision,” he added.

“BJP clearly seems to have a problem with the 22 Ambedkarite vows. They are using that to propagate their dirty politics, which has hurt me and forced me to tender my resignation… I have also been receiving threats over the phone for the past few days. But I am not scared. I will continue fighting for my community,” he wrote.