The Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday defended its newspaper advertisement slamming Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal as the one belonging to the upaddravi gotra or nuisance-causing clan, saying the term was used as a “metaphor”.
Taking exception to the advertisement featuring a caricature of Mr. Kejriwal waving a broom at the Republic Day parade, the AAP said it was “casteist” and demanded an apology from the BJP within 24 hours, or else it will be forced to approach the Election Commission to make an official complaint.
Rather than “apologise”, the BJP said the AAP had given a casteist spin to the advertisement and failed to recognise the political metaphor used in the advertisement.
The Congress also weighed in; questioning the justification given by the BJP stating that it reflected their mindset.
Mr. Kejriwal also tweeted against the advertisement saying: “The BJP can fight against me, but how can they call the entire Agarwal gotra disruptive? They should apologise. People of Delhi do not like such lowering of standards. They will give a reply on the day of voting.”
In another tweet, the former Delhi Chief Minister said stated: “Earlier they targeted my children in advertisements. I kept quiet. Anna Hazare says in public life one should have the capacity to take insults. But today in its casteist advertisement, the BJP has crossed all limits. It has called entire Agarwal community “ uppadravi ”. What has happened to the BJP?”
“This is a case of manufactured sensitivity,” said Union Power Minister Piyush Goyal.
“If you see the context in which the advertisement is given — the first few lines — we are talking about the anarchist mentality. And this is a metaphor. They are trying to convert it into a caste-based dialogue. It reflects their mindset.”
Lamenting the low-level of political discourse engaged in by BJP and AAP, Congress spokesman Abhishek Singhvi sought to project his party as one that “knows how to maintain the dignity of discourse”.
