Kejriwal's utensil cleaning act backfires, SGPC accuses him of political drama

Desecration controversy continues to haunt AAP's National Convenor and New Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal who washed utensils in Golden Temple complex on today morning to repent the disrespect which his party had shown to religious scriptures including Guru Granth earlier this month while releasing party's Youth Manifesto in Amritsar.

Kejriwal who did not tender any apology personally to Sikhs, joined dozens of Sikh volunteers at about 4 am and washed used utensils left by the Sikh followers for nearly 30 minutes. He spent one hour offering prayers, listening to hymns and taking a Parikarma of famous Golden Temple complex.

As expected, Kejriwal did not render the shoe dusting and floor sweeping service. He left the temple complex soon after paying obeisance at Golden temple.

WASHED DISHES FOR ATONEMENT

"We rendered service as an atonement for the unintentional mistakes and got peace of mind in return," Arvind Kejriwal told media persons while leaving the temple complex alongwith party's National Spokesperson Ashish Khetan.

Khetan had earlier caused a major embarrassment for the party by comparing its manifesto with various religious scriptures including Holy Bible, Bhagwad Geeta, Quran and Guru Granth Sahib on July 3.

While AAP claimed that the party by rendering selfless service has proved that it respects the religious sentiments of Sikhs, Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC), Akali Dal and Congress leaders termed Kejriwal's temple service as a political drama.

Speaking to India Today, Chief Secretary SGPC ,Harcharan Singh slammed AAP and accused Arvind Kejriwal of creating a political drama in the name of service.

"There is no need to have complaints. Their document itself is an evidence that they have a scant regard for Sikhs and they want to misuse the people. It is the duty of police and state government to punish them. Had he been seriously repenting, there was no need to bring crowd and cameras with him," Singh said.

REPENTANCE WAS AN EYE WASH

Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal also termed Kejriwal's repentance as an eye wash and accused him of hurting religious sentiments of Sikhs. Senior Congress leader Ambika Soni and some SGPC and Akali Dal leaders even accused Kejriwal and his men of washing the already cleaned utensils.

"Even if he cleaned a single plate that is a service. The service is open to all irrespective of religion. All we want is that it should be done selflessly and with a clean heart," Harcharan Singh said.

When contacted the Langar (community kitchen), officials refused to comment whether Kejriwal had washed clean utensils. Reacting to the allegations, AAP leaders Sucha Singh Chotepur (Punjab Convenor) and MP Bhagwant Mann criticised opposition parties for unnecessarily dragging the issue .

AAP DENIES CAPITALIZING ON RELIGION

"AAP does not believe in making a political capital out of religious issues. We apologised to the waheguru ( almighty ) and not to political parties," Sucha Singh Chotepur said.

It is worth mentioning here that AAP had very carefully planned the party supremo's Amritsar visit. Kejriwal visited the shrine at a time when it was difficult for the demonstrators to organise a protest against him. On July 3 he had faced a poster attack.

The party leaders also avoided media and parried political questions. Though AAP made a carefully planned attempt to douse the flames of discontentment but the desecration cases continue to haunt the party leaders including Kejriwal and Ashish Khetan. Punjab police is investigating two cases of desecration of holy books filed against its leaders.

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