'Kejriwal appeals to Centre: Include photos of Lakshmi, Ganesh on currency notes to bring India’s economy back on track'

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Sukla Sen

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Oct 26, 2022, 6:09:41 AM10/26/22
to foil-l, Say NO 2 UID Core Group
[That should settle the residual doubts as regards his politics.

Not to mistake, he's still not advocating hatred and violence. But, pleading fervently in favour of the Indian state being painted in saffron -- the colour of the faith of the "majority".
It's opportunism to the extreme.
It also helps to further legitimise the BJP brand of politics.
And, who knows, advocacy of violence against the "other" may be just a short step away.]

Kejriwal appeals to Centre: Include photos of Lakshmi, Ganesh on currency notes to bring India’s economy back on track

Kejriwal said photos of the deities can be printed beside Mahatma Gandhi and India will prosper by doing so.

AAP national convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Wednesday appealed to the Centre to include photos of Hindu deities Lakshmi and Ganesh on currency notes along with that of Mahatma Gandhi to bring “prosperity” to India.

When asked how he got the idea, Kejriwal said it came to his mind when he was doing Diwali puja at his house. “We can all see that our economy is not recovering. We all want India to become a developed country and for that lot of work needs to be done. But all efforts will be only successful when there will be gods and goddesses’ grace on us. Today, I appeal to the Central Government that our currency has a picture of Gandhi ji on one side, it should be kept as it is, but on the other side, pictures of Lakshmi ji and Ganesh ji should be included,” said Kejriwal while addressing a press conference.

The Delhi chief minister said he was not asking for a change in currency notes but was requesting new notes to include photos of Lakshmi and Ganesh. “Every day new currency notes are printed. These pictures can be added then,” Kejriwal said, adding that the two gods were associated with wealth and prosperity.

Giving an example of Indonesia, Kejriwal said, “Indonesia is a Muslim majority country and has only 2-3 per cent Hindus and they have Ganesh ji’s photo on their currency…When Indonesia can do why can’t we do it?” Kejriwal asked.

The Aam Aadmi Party leader said he would soon write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi with his request.

When asked if it is the AAP’s strategy to follow Hindutva and if people will call it a Hindutva party, Kejriwal said, “People will say anything. Bolne do jo bolna hai.”


sukl...@gmail.com

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Oct 26, 2022, 6:48:41 AM10/26/22
to Dalits Media Watch, foil-l, Say NO 2 UID Core Group
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Sukla Sen

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Oct 26, 2022, 12:29:58 PM10/26/22
to foil-l, Say NO 2 UID Core Group
Hi Friends,

The following is a comment received from a friend:

It struck me today in context of Britain that the 'right wing' and 'racist' are not always the same. ie. someone maybe right wing (economically) but not a racist. 
So maybe Kejriwal can be 'Hindu' in his politics but not thus automatically a fascist?
You or I would not agree with said politics but if he is willing to stand up to fascism and authoritarianism in various forms it would be foolish not to treat him as an ally.

My response is as under:

Thanks for coming back.

My views I had already put in these words:
<<Not to mistake, he's still not advocating hatred and violence. But, pleading fervently in favour of the Indian state being painted in saffron -- the colour of the faith of the "majority".
It's opportunism to the extreme [emphasis added now].
It also helps to further legitimise the BJP brand of politics [emphasis added now].
And, who knows, advocacy of violence against the "other" may be just a short step away.>>

And this is Kejriwal in 2006 as per his own testimony: I am neither a believer in God nor an atheist. So far in my life I haven't really experienced the presence of a Super Power but I do believe in the role of destiny in one's life.
Then in 2013: "I thank the Supreme Father, Ishwar, Allah, Waheguru," said Kejriwal, a self-proclaimed atheist till a few years back, soon after being sworn-in as Delhi's seventh chief minister.
Now, while the election campaign in Gujarat is on: When asked how he got the idea, Kejriwal said it came to his mind when he was doing Diwali puja at his house. “We can all see that our economy is not recovering. We all want India to become a developed country and for that lot of work needs to be done. But all efforts will be only successful when there will be gods and goddesses’ grace on us. Today, I appeal to the Central Government that our currency has a picture of Gandhi ji on one side, it should be kept as it is, but on the other side, pictures of Lakshmi ji and Ganesh ji should be included,” said Kejriwal while addressing a press conference.
So, that's his journey as a "Hindu" over the last sixteen years or so.

Never mind.
It's his option what sort of "Hindu" he wants to become or what sort of "Hindu" he wants to project himself as.
But to demand that a symbol of the state must carry the stamp of the faith of the "majority" is utterly obnoxious.
So is the rationale put forward. Personal belief in divine powers must not be hawked from the state platform. The Indian Constitution enjoins to promote rational and scientific way of thinking.

Now, let's look at Kejriwal's track record as one fighting against fascism or authoritarianism or the BJP.
When the BJP moved to, in effect, scrap the Article 370 to deny J&K of its (residual) autonomy, split the state into two and strip it of its statehood altogether, Kejriwal readily extended full-throated support. (Ref.: <https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/jammu-and-kashmir-article-370-revoked-political-parties-support-oppose-1577561-2019-08-05.)
Prior to that had okayed filing of sedition case against Kanhaiya Kumar -- well before his joining Congress -- just days after Kejriwal greeted Amit Shah in Delhi (ref.: <https://www.indiatoday.in/amp/india/story/aap-delhi-election-arvind-kejriwal-amit-shah-1647985-2020-02-19>).
Just the other day, a minister in his Cabinet was made to resign for participating in a conversion ceremony from Hinduism to Buddhism -- scrupulously following the format laid down by Dr Ambedkar. (Ref.: <https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/delhi-aap-minister-rajendra-pal-gautam-resigns-after-conversion-row>.)

To be fair, Kejriwal is not known to have ever claimed to fight fascism or authoritarianism. He relentlessly sells opposition to corruption and promotion of good governance. So, that way, he is quite consistent.
In fact, during the 2014 campaign for the state poll the AAP had put forward the slogan: Modi for PM / Arvind for CM. This would, however, be promptly abandoned after eliciting strong adverse responses. (Ref.: <https://m.timesofindia.com/india/aap-removes-modi-for-pm-arvind-for-cm-banner-from-website-after-social-media-outrage/articleshow/45073870.cms>.)
Also relevant is that the AAP scrupulously keeps away from any anti-BJP combination.

So, that's the candidate for being considered as an "ally" in the fight against the BJP.
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