 apologised on Tuesday for comparing its youth manifesto with Sikh holy book Guru Granth Sahib){kind=link}
Caught in a political storm for hurting religious sentiments, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) apologised on Tuesday for comparing its youth manifesto with Sikh holy book Guru Granth Sahib. The party also apologised for the picture of its symbol, the broom, on the photo of the Golden Temple on the manifesto’s cover.
AAP spokesman Ashish Khetan told reporters in Khanna, 36 km from Ludhiana, that he had no intention of hurting anyone’s sentiments at the launch of the manifesto in Amritsar on Sunday.
“If the comparison of the manifesto with sacred books has caused emotional harm to anyone, I apologise,” he said with folded hands.
The manifesto was released by Delhi chief minister and AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal at the function in Amritsar.
The party will change the manifesto cover. “It was unintentional,” Khetan said.
SAD Badal slams AAP
The apologies follow criticism from the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal-BJP combine. SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal termed Khetan’s equating Guru Granth Sahib with the manifesto an act of blasphemy.
Punjab BJP chief Vijay Sampla also demanded an apology for the broom on the shrine’s photo.
Kejriwal is not even aware of the culture of Punjab,” Sukhbir said, adding, “AAP has no respect for any religion. Kejriwal only sees political conspiracy whenever any action is taken against him or any of his team members.Sukhbir Singh Badal, Dy CM, Punjab