Headlines
No caste reference, just political metaphor: BJP
New Delhi, Feb 2
The Bharatiya Janata Party
(BJP) Monday denied having made any caste reference in an election
advertisement that mocked Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal
and accused AAP of giving it a religious and castiest connotation.
"It
is extremely sad that certain political parties are trying to convert a
political statement. An expression, used to represent that political
party's ideology, has been sought to be converted on religious ground,"
BJP leader Piyush Goyal said here Monday.
"This is a political
commentary on their (AAP) ideology, that is anarchy. The term has been
metaphorically used but it is being twisted and misused by the AAP," he
said.
"It is a conspiracy of AAP to give religious and casteist
tone to smooth election process," the BJP leader said, adding that BJP
will approach the Election Commission on the issue.
The AAP has also said it will complain to the poll panel on the issue.
The
advertisement featured a caricature of Kejriwal, saying he will disrupt
the Republic Day parade, and also ask for a VIP pass next year. It used
the term "upadravi gotra" or destructive subcaste alluding to Kejriwal,
the former Delhi chief minister and AAP chief.