'BJP Trying To Create Unnecessary Fuss': AAP Minister Amid Row Over Attending 'Mass Conversion' Event

Rajendra Pal Gautam recently attended a "mass conversion" event in which over 10,000 people gathered to be initiated into Buddhism.

Rajendra Pal Gautam, the Social Welfare Minister in the Delhi Government and an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA, responded on Friday to the Bhartiya Janata Party's (BJP) comments on his viral video from a "mass conversion" event. The minister said, "they don't have an issue, if they did, they wouldn't be engaging in this type of politics. Trying to make unnecessary noise," ABP News reported.

Following the uproar over the oath administered during the event, AAP minister Rajendra Pal Gautam stated to ABP News, "Is it true that you are being converted? We are taking an oath that we do not believe in Brahma, Vishnu, or Mahesh."

"In Buddhist initiation, 22 vows are given; Buddhism is not spoken against any religion; and Buddhism is known worldwide," the minister further added. 

The minister says of the BJP charges, "this initiation programme is held every year, and BJP ministers attend such events. Nitin Gadkari and Ramdas Athawale attended a similar initiation ceremony the day before yesterday in Nagpur. This is a religious gathering," the minister continued, slamming BJP leaders.

The BJP had made remarks on AAP minister's recent video from a mass conversion gathering pledge of  "not worshipping Hindu gods and goddesses," that went viral on social media. After the event's video went viral on social media, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) slammed it as a "breaking India" project.

BJP's Amit Malviya tweeted a video and wrote, “Arvind Kejriwal’s minister Rajendra Pal executing the “Breaking India” project. Make no mistake, Kejriwal is the prime sponsor of this Hindu hate propaganda.”

Over 10,000 people gathered on Wednesday at Ambedkar Bhavan in the national capital to participate in the initiation to Buddhism on October 5.

The AAP minister and others can be seen taking an oath and saying, "I shall have no faith in Brahma, Vishnu, or Maheshwara, nor shall I worship them," in a video from the event that went viral. I will not believe in or worship Rama and Krishna, who are thought to be God's incarnations."

"Let's call the mission towards Buddha, Jai Bhim," Rajendra Pal wrote on Twitter. On Ashoka Vijayadashami, more than 10,000 intellectuals pledged to make India caste and untouchable-free under the banner of "Mission Jai Bhim."