The BJP on Monday defended its advertisement in Delhi newspapers that slammed what it called Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal’s “uppadravi gotra” (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 a Republic Day parade, the AAP said it was “casteist,” and demanded an apology within 24 hours. But the BJP said the AAP had given a casteist spin to the advertisement and failed to recognise the political metaphor.
The Congress weighed in, questioning the justification offered by the BJP and saying it reflected the party’s mindset.
Mr. Kejriwal tweeted: “The BJP can fight against me, but how can they call the entire Agarwal gotra disruptive? People of Delhi do not like such lowering of standards.”
In another tweet, he said: “Earlier, they targeted my children in advertisements. I kept quiet. Anna Hazare says that in public life one should have the capacity to take insults. But today in its casteist advertisement, the BJP has crossed all limits.”
“This is a case of manufactured sensitivity,” said 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.”
