'I'm Going To Temple Because...': Arvind Kejriwal Responds To Allegations Of 'Soft Hindutva' Over Visits

When asked about Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant's claim that the AAP was copying their government's schemes, Kejriwal alleged that the former was actually copying his party.

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New Delhi: Responding to recent allegations of induldging in "Soft Hindutva", Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday said that he is visiting temples because he is a Hindu and that no one should have objections to it.

The Aam Aadmi Party national convener, who arrived in Goa on a two-day visit, replied to a poser on whether he was indulging in "soft Hindutva" by visiting temples.

"Do you go to the temple? I also go to the temple. There is nothing wrong in going to the temple. You feel peaceful when you visit it. What is their (those alleging soft Hindutva) objection? Why there should be any objection?. I am going to a temple because I am a Hindu. My wife visits the Gaurishankar temple," Arvind Kejriwal said, says quoted by news agency PTI.

When asked about Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant's claim that the AAP was copying their government's schemes like sponsoring pilgrimages, the Delhi CM alleged that the former was actually copying his party.

"I want to say Pramod Sawant is copying us. When I said we will give electricity free, he gave water free. When I said we will provide employment allowance, he announced about 10,000 jobs, and when I spoke about pilgrimages, he announced his scheme," Kejriwal said.

The Aam Aadmi Party national convener, during his visit, met members of the Bhandari community, and also inducted labour unionist and mining stir leader Puti Gaonkar into the party.

Meanwhile, he also visited the head office of the Gomantak Bhandari Samaj. CM Kejriwal became the first Delhi CM to visit the head office of the community, the Gomantak Bhandari Samaj, news agency ANI reported. 

The Gomantak Bhandari Samaj was established 106 years ago.

"I have not come here to visit Bhandari Samaj as the Aam Aadmi Party national convenor nor have I come here as Delhi CM. I came here as a younger brother of Bhandari Samaj. The Bhandari Samaj wants in Goa the kind of good work Delhi is witnessing. They have raised a lot of issues with us. We will think about the issues and work on them," Kejriwal said, as quoted by ANI.