New Delhi, Jan 9 (UNI) Delhi BJP workers along with their Sikh Cell members on Friday staged a strong protest near the AAP office here against the alleged insult of Sikh Guru Tegh Bahadur by AAP leader Atishi.
BJP’s National General Secretary Tarun Chugh led the protest, as the party workers took to streets near the Windsor Place and then began marching towards the AAP office located in near the Feroz Shah road, situated in the Pandit Ravi Shankar Shukla lane.
Raising slogans against the AAP leader, the BJP workers demanded her resignation, and an apology from party chief Arvind Kejriwal and also Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann.
Addressing the party workers, Chugh stated that Atishi’s conduct and statements in the Delhi Assembly reflected disrespect towards Sikh Gurus and their traditions.
He claimed that what the AAP leader did, is something which is against constitutional dignity.
According to Chugh’s claims, acting at the behest of AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal, repeated statements made by Bhagwant Mann in Punjab clearly prove that the party’s approach for Sikhs and their faith has been rather hostile, than being sensitive.
He called Atishi’s conduct not merely a careless act, but a rather deliberate attempt to hurt sentiments of Sikh community.
“Such insults to Sikh religious symbols and traditions on constitutional platforms are not merely careless acts, but deliberate attempts to hurt the sentiments of the Sikh community,” Chugh stated.
He said such conduct by a party leader, especially on the occasion of the 350th birth anniversary of the revered Sikh Guru, is something that completely exposes the ideological narrow-mindedness of the AAP.
Chugh demanded that the two AAP leaders including Punjab CM and Atishi must offer an unconditional public apology to the Sikh community.
Speaking on the occasion, BJP National Spokesperson Sardar RP Singh said that the words used by Atishi for the Sikh Guru, were not only condemnable, but is something that clearly reflects the level of disrespect she holds for Sikhs, he claimed, asserting that the struggle shall go on unless the AAP leader tenders an apology.
BJP MP Kamaljeet Sehrawa, who was also present at the protest stated that a discussion was underway in the Delhi Assembly regarding a program related to Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib, but during the discussion, the words used by LoP Atishi deeply hurt the sentiments of the Sikh community.
Sehrawat stated that Guru Tegh Bahadur was known as “Hind ki Chadar,” as he had sacrificed his life for the protection of society and religion, and the use the alleged disrespectful words for him is something that shows Atishi’s mindset, and the AAP leader must apologize, the BJP MP added.
Convener of the Delhi BJP Sikh Cell, Charanjit Singh described Atishi’s statement in the legislature unfortunate, but also contradictory to facts, and an insult to the religious sentiments of the Sikh community.
“The Sikh community of Delhi and the entire country will not tolerate this,” he added.
Meanwhile, as the BJP workers marched towards the AAP office, they were stopped by the police with heavy barricading near the Feroz Shah road and the Madhavrao Scindia Marg traffic lights intersection.
The cops detained party workers, and later they were released after issuing a warning.
