- Arvind Kejriwal, in Gujarat, chants "Jai Shri Ram", day after AAP leader's oath row at Buddhism event, reports ndtv.com
In a protest against alleged "anti-Hindu" statements by an Aam Aadmi Party minister in Delhi, BJP supporters in Vadodara on Saturday tore AAP's banners before a rally by party supremo Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, reports ndtv.com.
Cops later detained some protesters, but rally was yet to begin even an hour after the scheduled 4pm on a rainy day.
AAP was slated to hold a 'Tiranga Yatra' (march with the national flag) led by Kejriwal which would be a part of its poll campaign in Narendra Modi's home state, where elections are scheduled in December.
Senior AAP leader Durgesh Pathak tweeted: "This hooliganism shows the BJP's fear of defeat in Gujarat."
The protesters accused Delhi minister Rajendra Pal Gautam of insulting Hinduism at at a mass conversion event to Buddhism in Delhi.
AAP all this while has maintained silence — though party sources state Kejriwal is "extremely upset" with Gautam who ahs refsued to apologise.
Gautam cited freedom of religion and added "I only repeated vows taken by the legendary Dalit leader, who converted to Buddhism at such an event in 1956. The vows include a pledge for equality and no faith in incarnations of God."
The event was organised by Jai Bheem Mission, an NGO founded by Gautam.