Amid row over pledge at 'religious conversion' event, AAP minister Rajendra Pal Gautam issues clarification

“Today in the media I saw that BJP is spreading some rumors about me. I am a very religious person. I personally respect all the deities and would not even dream of insulting the deities by my actions or words,” Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) minister Rajendra Pal Gautam said in his statement.

Somya Lohia

Updated Oct 7, 2022, 23:06 IST

In his statement, AAP minister Rajendra Pal Gautam accused the BJP of spreading rumours. (Image: Twitter/@AdvRajendraPal)

New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) minister Rajendra Pal Gautam, who is in the middle of a controversy for allegedly denouncing Hindu deities while taking a pledge to convert to Buddhism, issued clarification on Friday, saying he personally respects all the deities and would not even dream of insulting them.

He further said, “I did not utter any words towards anyone’s faith, I respect everyone’s faith. In my speech, I spoke on education, health, employment, inflation and social equality.”

In his statement, Gautam accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of spreading rumours and propaganda and sought an “apology with folded hands from all those who have been hurt in any way by this propaganda by the BJP.”

“BJP people are spreading false rumors about me. I am deeply hurt by this act of BJP people and I apologize with folded hands to all those people who have been hurt in any way due to this propaganda of BJP,” he added.

During the programme on October 5, the day of Dussehra, around 10,000 people purportedly took vows to convert to Buddhism, follow Lord Buddha’s teachings and give up worship of Hindu deities.

Four days after the event, a purported video went viral in which Gautam can be seen sharing the dais with other persons attending the programme. He could also been seen standing in the pledge gesture.

The pledge was: “I will never hold Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh as gods and worship them. I will neither hold Ram and Krishna as God nor worship them ever. I will not believe in or worship Gauri, Ganapti or any other deity of the Hindu religion.”

As the video went viral on Friday, the BJP demanded to sack Gautam. Addressing a press conference, BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia accused the AAP of hurting the sentiments of Hindus. “Gautam's comments highlight the hate the party has for the community,” he said.

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