Delhi minister meets Jain monk over Dadlani tweet controversy

CHANDIGARH: Delhi PWD Minister Satyendar Jain met Jain monk Tarun Sagar at Chandigarh today in the wake of a controversy over music composer and AAP supporter Vishal Dadlani's Twitter remark criticising the monk's address to Haryana Assembly. The meeting took place this morning even as a group of Jain community members staged a protest outside Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence in the national capital, demanding immediate arrest of Dadlani. "I met Tarun Sagar Maharaj and talked about the controversy that arose two days ago. He said that he was not affected by it and that he has forgiven those who inadvertently did so," the Delhi minister said. Jain said efforts were on to politicise the whole issue and that the matter should be put to rest as the monk has forgiven the guilty. "I feel some people are doing politics over it, the issue should be ended now. (Congress man) Tehsin Poonawala who commented against Maharaj-ji has not even apologised and none of his party's leaders, including Soniaji and Rahul Gandhi, has expressed regret over it. The mater should be kept away from politics," he said. Jain said he and Kejriwal had earlier sought forgiveness for Dadlani's tweets. "I also carried Arvind Kejriwal's message that he felt sad for what was said about him to which Maharaji-ji said that he has already forgiven those who inadvertently did so," he said. Jain also defended Dadlani, saying that he realised his mistake and was deeply hurt over the whole issue and repeatedly sought forgiveness for his act. "Vishal realised that he committed a mistake and was deeply hurt. He expressed apologies many times. It was not a matter of difference of opinion it was about a word that he unknowingly used," Jain said, rejecting suggestion that his visit was a damage control exercise by AAP. Stung by criticism from several quarters, including Kejriwal, over his sarcastic tweet on the Jain monk's address to the Haryana Assembly, Dadlani had yesterday announced quitting "all active political work/affiliation". Dadlani deleted the Saturday tweet and tendered an apology, saying he "made a mistake by offending the peaceful Jain community". He also apologised to the Jain monk on Twitter. The Haryana government had invited the Jain monk to deliver a lecture 'Kadve Vachan' in the Assembly on Friday. Asked about a similar invite to the monk to address the Delhi Assembly, Jain said he was not aware about any such programme and that a decision on such an event could be taken by the Assembly Speaker only.