The controversy over Arvind Kejriwal's demand to the Centre to print images of Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi to help the country's economy refuses to die down. Now senior Congress leader Manish Tewari has waded into the row and asked Kejriwal why should the photo of Ambedkar not be printed on the notes.
He tweeted, "Why not Dr BabaSahib Ambedkar’s photograph on new series of currency notes ? One side the great Mahatma the other side Dr Ambedkar. Non violence,Constitutionalism & egalitarianism fusing in a unique Union that would sum up the modern Indian genius perfectly. (sic)"
On Wednesday, Arvind Kejriwal appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to consider his suggestion of printing images of Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi on currency notes in India to “improve the economic situation of the country”.
"Today I appeal to the central government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. On Indian currency there is a photo of Gandhi ji, let that be, on the other side of currency, a photo of Shri Ganesh Ji and Lakshmi ji should be put,” he said.
"As I said, we have to make a lot of effort to improve the economic situation of our country. But also with that, we need blessings from Gods and Goddesses. The whole country will get blessings if on currency notes, there is a photo of Ganesh Ji and Lakshmi ji on one side and Gandhi ji on the other side," he added.
Kejriwal said that he got this idea while worshipping for peace and prosperity on Diwali.
Delhi CM’s statement came ahead of Assembly elections in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh and was viewed as a ‘soft Hindutva’ tactic to woo voters.
Shorly after Kejriwal made the statement, Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party launched attack on him with Congress terming Aam Aadmi Party a "B team of BJP and RSS" while the saffron party alleged AAP's politics "taking a U-turn".