NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday launched a scathing attack on Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convenor Arvind Kejriwal, accusing him of misinterpreting the Ramayana and using it to mislead voters ahead of the Delhi assembly elections scheduled for February 5.
The controversy began after Kejriwal addressed slum dwellers in Vishwas Nagar on Monday, comparing the BJP to the “golden deer” in the Ramayana.
“I want to warn the slum dwellers that these days they (BJP leaders) are staying in slums. They do not love you; they love your vote and will sell all your land after the elections. Lord Ram was exiled for 14 years, so one day he went to the forest to arrange for food, left Mata Sita in the hut and told Laxman to protect her. Meanwhile, Ravan came in the form of a golden deer. Sita said to Laxman that I want this deer… Laxman went, and Ravan kidnapped Sita Maa. These BJP people are also like that golden deer. Do not fall into their trap,” Kejriwal said.
Reacting to the remarks, the BJP accused Kejriwal of twisting the Ramayana for political gain. In a post on X, the BJP said, “Listen to the story of a big fraud who became an electoral Hindu, If Ravana came as a golden deer, then who was Maricha?”
BJP leader Manoj Tiwari strongly criticised Kejriwal, labelling him “Vidharmi (heretic)” and claiming his statements reflected ignorance about Hindu scriptures.
“I am not at all surprised by his statement because we know that Arvind Kejriwal tries to be a ‘Chunavi’ Hindu during elections. He has been exposed. All those things he said yesterday prove that he has no connection with the Hindu religion and Sanatan. The world knows about the golden deer (in Ramayana). This Vidharmi Arvind Kejriwal is saying that Ravan came in the disguise of the deer,” Tiwari told reporters.
Tiwari further alleged, “The world knows about the golden deer in Ramayana, but he claims that Ravan disguised as one.”
Kejriwal fires back at BJP
Kejriwal responded to the criticism by taking a dig at the BJP, claiming they admire Ravana due to their “demonic nature.” Addressing a press conference, Kejriwal warned slum dwellers in Delhi, saying the BJP would “gulp you down like demons” if they came to power.
“Yesterday, I said that Ravana came as a golden deer and Mother Sita wanted that deer. They are saying it was not Ravana (who came as a deer) but demon Maricha instead. The entire BJP is protesting outside my house, asking why I insulted Ravana. They love Ravana so much. They are of a demonic nature. I want to warn the people living in slums and poor sections of Delhi that these people will gulp you down like demons if they come to power,” Kejriwal said.
BJP doubles down with fresh attacks
BJP leader Pradeep Bhandari added to the criticism, calling Kejriwal a “Chunavi Hindu” and accusing him of lacking knowledge about Hinduism.
“Arvind Kejriwal is a ‘Chunavi’ Hindu. Appeasement runs in his and his boss Rahul Gandhi’s veins. He has little knowledge of Ramayana and could not recite it properly. He says that his grandmother used to say that Lord Ram’s temple should not be built in Ayodhya. He said that all the land in Delhi should be given to Waqf. The ‘Chunavi’ Hindu face of Arvind Kejriwal has been exposed in front of the people of Delhi and the country.
“He is the one who does not know Ramayana, is irritated with Lord Shri Ram’s temple in Ayodhya, wants to give all the land of Delhi to Waqf, did not remember the Hindu Pujaris for 10 years, and supports Rohingya. Such a leader is against Sanatana, against the unity of Hindus and the country,” Bhandari said.
The heated exchange underscores the growing political tensions ahead of the Delhi assembly elections, with both parties trading barbs to sway public opinion.
