After committing a political slip by superimposing the picture of a broom, the party’s symbol, on a picture of the Golden Temple, the AAP is now trying to make up for the mistake committed.
The incident happened when the AAP’s youth manifesto was released in Amritsar: the cover page of the manifesto had a picture of a broom, superimposed on one of the Golden Temple. AAP’s political opponents were quick to pounce on the gaffe as they lambasted the party for hurting Sikh religious sentiment. Even as the AAP leadership apologised, saying the mistake was committed “inadvertently” and they had no ill intention, the Punjab police was quick to register a case against AAP leader Ashish Khetan, who was accused of hurting religious sentiments. The complainant alleged that by using the image of the Golden Temple on the cover page of the manifesto with the party’s election symbol of the broom superimposed on it, the people’s sentiments had been hurt.
There has been a constant effort since then by political parties opposed to the AAP to raise the issue at all public and private platforms. Even as opponents of AAP are trying to project it as the party which has little respect for religious feelings, the AAP is also issuing continuous apologies for its oversight. Even SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar said, “The remark was very derogatory and people are hurt by it. We will be registering a case against the AAP leaders who are responsible for hurting Sikh sentiments.”
To make sure that the issue did not escalate any further and stir up more annoyance among the people, senior AAP leaders decided to perform sewa (service) at the Golden Temple.
Many see it as a move to soothe the angry Sikhs: sewa, among the Sikhs, is, at times, done by a person guilty of misconduct and seeking forgiveness. Senior advocate and Aam Aadmi Party leader H.S. Phoolka was the first to do sewa on Sunday and offer an apology at the Akal Takht for the party’s gaffe. Phoolka, who reached the shrine at around 3 am, went straight to the ‘langar ghar’ (community kitchen) and washed utensils. He then went to the Akal Takht and apologised on behalf of the party.
Next in line to perform sewa at the Golden Temple is AAP convenor and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, who, along with other AAP leaders, will visit the Golden Temple (Harmandar Sahib) on July 18 to carry out sewa in an apparent effort at damage control.
