Ashish Khetan, AAP spokesperson, accused of hurting religious sentiment in Punjab
Highlights
- He had compared AAP's youth manifesto to Guru Granth Sahib and Gita
- Mr Khetan later apologised, saying he meant no disrespect to holy books
- Punjab's Deputy Chief Minister called it an 'act of blasphemy'
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) spokesperson Ashish Khetan has been accused of hurting religious sentiment in a police complaint filed in Punjab, in the latest controversy to hit the party as it campaigns for elections next year in the state.
While launching his party's youth manifesto in Amritsar on Saturday, Mr Khetan had spoken about the booklet in the same breath as religious books like the Guru Granth Sahib and the Gita.
"This is our bible, our Gita and our Guru Granth Sahib," Mr Khetan said on the 51-point manifesto.
The booklet also used an image of the Sikh shrine Golden Temple along with a smiling Arvind Kejriwal and AAP's election symbol - the broom - which provoked furious objections from Sikh groups.
Mr Kejriwal, who was also present at the Amritsar event, was lacerated on social media, with hashtags like #KejriinsultsGoldenTemple trending on Twitter.
Mr Khetan later apologized saying he didn't mean to disrespect the holy books.
A group, the All India Sikh Students Federation, said it is not enough and went to the police.
Punjab's Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal has called it an "act of blasphemy".
This is the second time AAP has run into trouble in Punjab, where it has big plans for a grand assembly election debut similar to Delhi.
AAP's Delhi lawmaker Naresh Yadav was recently questioned on an incident involving the alleged desecration of the Quran.
Mr Kejriwal has accused Punjab's ruling Akali Dal of going after his party men out of insecurity ahead of the polls.
The party, which rules Delhi, has turned the Punjab election, traditionally a direct contest between the Akali Dal and the Congress, into a triangular fight.