Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor criticized former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for attempting to exploit Lord Ram’s name through a Shri Sundarkand Paath event, which failed to draw a significant crowd. Despite efforts to bus devotees to the Rohini pandal, only 500 to 600 people attended, with even AAP workers declining the invitation.
Kapoor highlighted that key AAP members, including Atishi Marlena and Gopal Rai, along with most MLAs, refrained from participating in the Shri Sundarkand Paath, rejecting Kejriwal’s perceived religious stance for electoral gains. The criticism from Delhi BJP comes amidst claims that Kejriwal strategically adopts Hindutva before elections to sway Hindu voters.
The BJP further recalled Kejriwal’s past statements, including his reluctance to visit a temple constructed post the demolition of a mosque, contrasting it with his recent embrace of Hindutva post the Ayodhya Ram Temple construction in 2024. The AAP’s initiative of weekly Shri Sundarkand Paath programs across Delhi’s constituencies faced limited success, with only a few events held before being discontinued.
Delhi BJP President Harsh Malhotra questioned Kejriwal’s sincerity in organizing the Shri Sundarkand Paath in Rohini, urging him to clarify the abrupt halt to the 2024 program series. Malhotra accused Kejriwal of feigning devotion for political motives, criticizing what he termed as insincere religious displays in the name of Lord Hanuman and Shri Sundarkand Paath.
