Aam Aadmi Party leader Ashish Khetan, booked on charges of hurting religious sentiments in Punjab, on Wednesday came out with a strong apology to douse the raging issue and salvage the party’s reputat
Aam Aadmi Party leader Ashish Khetan, booked on charges of hurting religious sentiments in Punjab, on Wednesday came out with a strong apology to douse the raging issue and salvage the party’s reputation ahead of the Punjab Assembly polls. Speaking to a news agency, Mr Khetan went to the extent of saying that the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)-led government in Punjab can “mete out any punishment to him, including ‘crucifixion’, if not satisfied with his apology”.
“I had apologised to the people even yesterday. People were hurt by something I said. Wahe Guruji forgives everyone, I never intended to hurt anyone’s religious feelings. If the Akali government is not satisfied with my apology, they can give me any punishment,” he said.
The AAP leader also met chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday. AAP’s Punjab in charge Sanjay Singh and senior leader Ashutosh were also present in the meeting.
However, the party maintained that the meeting had got nothing to do with the controversy.
When contacted, a senior party leader said the meeting was “informal”. The leader criticised the Opposition for “communalising” the issue despite Mr Khetan tendering apology.
Mr Singh said that Mr Khetan, who is also the party’s spokesperson, should be forgiven for unknowingly hurting the religious sentiments of the people in Punjab. “Mr Khetan has apologised publicly and his statements had no intention to hurt the religious sentiments of anybody. People whose sentiments got hurt because of his statement, I am apologising to them with folded hands,” Mr Singh said.
