‘Electoral politics’: NDA leaders slam Kejriwal’s Sita temple announcement in Amritsar

New Delhi, June 28 (IANS) NDA leaders on Sunday lashed out at Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal after the latter announced the construction of a grand temple dedicated to Mata Sita and Luv and Kush in Amritsar, accusing him of indulging in “electoral politics” ahead of the Punjab Assembly polls.

Kejriwal on Saturday declared a series of religious and cultural initiatives in Punjab, including the construction of the temple in Amritsar. He made the announcement during the ‘Ek Shaam Bhagwan Shiv Ke Naam’ event, where he was accompanied by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.

Speaking to IANS, BJP MP Manan Kumar Mishra said: “When Arvind Kejriwal is heading towards trouble, he suddenly remembers God, Mata Sita, and everyone else. When he was in power, when he was at his peak, he did not like the Ram Mandir.”

“But no matter whom he remembers now, Arvind Kejriwal’s situation is already in reverse gear. He has already lost in Delhi and will soon lose in Punjab as well,” he added.

However, BJP national spokesperson RP Singh welcomed Kejriwal’s decision, while saying, “Until yesterday, those who were raising questions over the Ram Mandir are now moving towards building a temple.”

According to JD-U leader Neeraj Kumar, Kejriwal is “very late” in making the announcement.

“Mata Sita is Jagat Janani…Luv-Kush, they are also a heritage of Bihar. Bihar has already taken decisive steps in this regard. It is a matter of pride for us that the state government, under Nitish Kumar’s regime, began the construction of a temple dedicated to Mata Sita with its own financial resources. The Centre has also approved the Ram Janki Path project,” he told IANS.

Addressing the AAP chief, he said: “Your political image has already been damaged because you have gone to jail in corruption-related matters.”

Shiv Sena leader Raju Waghmare accused Kejriwal of indulging in “electoral politics”.

“The same Arvind Kejriwal who was not so enthusiastic about the construction of the Ram Temple (in Ayodhya) is now attempting to construct a temple dedicated to Goddess Sita. The atmosphere in Punjab is not in his favour, so now he is attempting to do electoral politics by doing all these things,” he remarked.

Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Congress in-charge Rajendra Pal Gautam accused Kejriwal of “working for the BJP”.

“He will speak only as much as the BJP wants him to. He does not have the courage to say anything beyond that. The BJP will not finish the Aam Aadmi Party now. It wants such small parties to continue existing and keep dividing votes because the entire country is looking towards the Congress. The BJP’s think tank has decided to keep such smaller parties alive,” he told IANS.

–IANS

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