Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Ashish Khetan on Saturday alleged danger to his life from “fringe Hindu groups” after receiving a death threat in a letter similar to the one he claimed he had received last year.
Demanding that Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh initiate action against the culprits, the head of the Delhi Dialogue Commission (DDC) said he received the letter on May 9. Mr. Khetan said that the letter stated that he had “crossed all levels” in committing “sins against Hindu saints”.
Khetan said he will submit the letter to the Ministry of Home Affairs on Monday. The Delhi Police said it had not received any information about the matter.
“The way the letter has been framed is indicative of the involvement of fringe Hindu groups. The language, especially the usage of words such as durjan (villain), is strikingly similar to letters that [rationalist Narendra] Dabholkar and [Left politician Govind] Pansare used to receive prior to their murders,” Mr. Khetan told The Hindu .
“It is because of you (Khetan) that Sadhvi Pragya Singh (an accused in the 2006 Malegaon blasts case) and Virendra Singh Tawde (an accused in the case of murder of rationalist Narendra Dabholkar in 2013) are in jail. People like you deserve only death punishment in a Hindu Rashtra,” the letter read.
Mr. Khetan also sought action from Mr. Singh on several journalists, writers and activists being “threatened by right wing forces” adding that he had received a similar letter last year.
Reacting to the development, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said this was “extremely shocking” and demanded action from the home minister. “Ashish Khaitan receives death threat. Hope Rajnath Singh ji will take action (Sic.),” Mr. Kejriwal tweeted.
