Video: Arvind Kejriwal Banners Torn By BJP Supporters In Gujarat Over Minister's "Anti-Hindu Remarks"

Protesting against alleged "anti-Hindu" statements by an Aam Aadmi Party minister in Delhi, supporters of the ruling BJP in Gujarat's Vadodara today tore the AAP's banners ahead of a scheduled rally by party boss Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. 

At the 'Tiranga Rally' that began nearly three hours after the scheduled 4pm on a rainy day, Delhi Chief Minister Kejriwal took to Hindu mythological references to allege that the BJP "insults Gods". He raised slogans of "Jai Sri Ram" and "Jai Sri Krishna", and called himself a steadfast devotee of Hanuman.

"Our enemies are all demons like Kansa. We have a duty to annihilate them. They should know, I was born on Janmashtami (Lord Krishna's birthday)," he said. Lord Krishna had killed his evil uncle Kansa, say religious texts.

The AAP has been campaigning vigorously in PM Narendra Modi's home state, where elections are due in December.

After the protest, senior AAP leader Durgesh Pathak tweeted: "This hooliganism shows the BJP's fear of defeat in Gujarat."

ये गुंडागर्दी गुजरात में भाजपा की हार की बौखलाहट दर्शा रही है।#GujaratWithAAP pic.twitter.com/wBfyqVaP8S

— Durgesh Pathak (@ipathak25) October 8, 2022

The anti-AAP protesters were angry over Delhi minister Rajendra Pal Gautam's oath at a mass conversion event to Buddhism in Delhi, where he was among thousands who recited BR Ambedkar's 22 vows that include denouncing Hindu Gods and Brahminical traditions.

While the AAP officially didn't address it directly — except party sources saying Mr Kejriwal is "extremely upset" with his minister — Mr Gautam has since apologised for "hurting anyone's religious sentiments”. But he has cited freedom of religion and said he only repeated vows taken by the legendary Dalit leader, who converted to Buddhism at such an event in 1956. 

The protesters in Vadodara today — some of who said they are "ordinary, proud Hindus" and "not with the BJP" — cited that the Delhi event as an affront to Hinduism. "That AAP minister (Rajendra Pal Gautam) made thousands of Hindus change their religion," a woman who tore AAP posters alleged.

The event was held by Jai Bheem Mission, an NGO founded by Mr Gautam, where nearly 7,000 people, mostly Dalits, embraced Buddhism. It was attended by a great-grandnephew of BR Ambedkar, Rajratna Ambedkar.

BJP has filed police police complaints and shared the event's video on Twitter, accusing the AAP minister of "spewing venom against Hindus".