Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday asked people to stop showing disrespect to the nude monk who had addressed in the Haryana assembly to talk, among other issues, about female foeticide and husband-wife relationship.
An overwhelming majority of social media users had described the idea of inviting the Jain spiritual guru, Tarun Sagar, to address MLAs inside the assembly regressive.
Reacting the criticism for the ‘naked monk,’ Kejriwal said, “Tarun Sagar ji Maharaj is a very reverred saint, not just for jains but everyone. Those showing disrespect is unfortunate and shud stop. (sic)”
Tarun Sagar ji Maharaj is a very reverred saint, not just for jains but everyone. Those showing disrespect is unfortunate and shud stop
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) August 27, 2016
In another tweet, the Delhi chief minister wrote, “I met Shri Tarun Sagar ji Maharaj last year. Our family regularly listens to his discourses on TV. We deeply respect him and his thoughts.”
I met Shri Tarun Sagar ji Maharaj last year. Our family regularly listens to his discourses on TV. We deeply respect him and his thoughts
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) August 27, 2016
Noted among the critics of the ‘naked monk’ was music director Vishal Dadlani, a known supporter of Kejriwal.
Satyendra Jain, the health minister in Kejriwal’s cabinet, extended apology on Dadlani’s behalf.
His tweet read, “I apologise for hurting feelings of Jain community by my friend @VishalDadlani. I seek kshama from Muni Shri Tarun Sagar ji Maharaj.”
I apologise for hurting feelings of Jain community by my friend @VishalDadlani. I seek kshama from Muni Shri Tarun Sagar ji Maharaj.
— Satyendar Jain (@SatyendarJain) August 27, 2016
Dadlani too immediately posted apology on Twitter adding that his intention was not to hurt any particular community but to highlight a point that governance and religion must be kept at bay.
He wrote, “I apologise to you too, wholeheartedly, Sir. I hope that religion and governance can be separated, for India’s sake. I’m sorry to have offended you and your beliefs too, Sir. My intent was not to hurt anyone. Spoke without thinking.”
I apologise to you too, wholeheartedly, Sir. I hope that religion and governance can be separated, for India's sake. https://t.co/1che7haOZy
— VISHAL DADLANI (@VishalDadlani) August 27, 2016
I'm sorry to have offended you and your beliefs too, Sir. My intent was not to hurt anyone. Spoke without thinking. https://t.co/BqpT0Rks6M
— VISHAL DADLANI (@VishalDadlani) August 27, 2016
Dadlani then announced that he was quitting his political affiliation (with AAP) and political work.
He wrote, “It feel bad that I hurt my Jain friends & my friends @ArvindKejriwal & @SatyendarJain .I hereby quit all active political work/affiliation.”
It feel bad that I hurt my Jain friends & my friends @ArvindKejriwal & @SatyendarJain .I hereby quit all active political work/affiliation.
— VISHAL DADLANI (@VishalDadlani) August 27, 2016
A report in the Indian Express on Saturday had said how a nude monk addressed the members of Haryana assembly to give lecture on social issues such as female foeticide and growing incidents of rapes.
The monk, Tarun Sagar, was invited by the Haryana’s education minister, Ram Bilas Sharma, and he arrrived in the assembly naked and sat on a dais, above the seats of the Governor, Chief Minister and MLAs.
His gathering also included woman members of the assembly.
His ‘karve vachan’ included talks on husband-wife relationship, rapes and female foeticide.
He said, “Rajniti par dharam ka ankush zaroori hai. Dharam pati hai, rajneeti patni. Har pati ki yeh duty hoti hai apni patni ko samrakshan de. Har patni ka dharam hota hai ki woh pati ke anushasan ko sweekar kare.
Agar rajneeti par dharam ka ankush na ho toh woh magan-mast haathi ki tarah… ho jaati hai(The control of dharma over politics is essential. Dharma is the husband, politics is the wife. It is the duty of every husband to protect his wife. It is the duty of every wife to accept the discipline of her husband. If there is no control of dharma over politics, it will be like an elephant out of control).”
Sagar, according to DNA website, is a well-known leader of the Jain community and also has an award named after him that was awarded to Baba Ramdev, Vijay Darda of Lokmat Patrika group and Jain International Trade Organization (JITO) by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2012.
