AAP: Khetan never compared manifesto to religious books

CHANDIGARH: Facing criticism after Ashish Khetan allegedly compared party’s youth manifesto for Punjab to religious books, the Aam Aadmi Party on Wednesday said he never made the comparison and that some “language problem” led people to interpret his remarks “wrongly”.

AAP’s Punjab convener Sucha Singh Chhotepur sought to clarify the issue, saying Khetan did not intend to hurt religious sentiments of any community.

“We also heard saying this... he had said it (manifesto) was as sacred for him as Guru Granth Sahib, Gita. But he never compared it to religious books. He meant to say that manifesto was pious for him,” he added.

“There was some language problem and people interpreted it wrongly...this issue is now being given wrong colour (by political parties),” Chhotepur said.

The AAP leader said Khetan tendered his apology with “folded hands” when he “realised his mistake” and therefore “he should be forgiven”.

He urged opponents not to fuel the issue in the larger interest of the state and fight with them on political battleground.

He cited a 2014 incident ahead of the Lok Sabha polls when Punjab minister Bikram Majithia had allegedly distorted a hymn (shabad) of Guru Gobind Singh while seeking votes for Arun Jaitley, BJP candidate from Amritsar. “But we never politicised the issue,” he said.

Asked to comment on FIR registered against Khetan, Chhotepur said, “We will face the law.”

There was some language problem and people interpreted it wrongly... He meant to say that manifesto was pious to him... this issue is now being given wrong colour.

SUCHA SINGH CHHOTEPUR, AAP state convener