New Delhi: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Sunday organised a Sundarkand recitation at Japanese Park in Rohini, where party national convenor Arvind Kejriwal announced the launch of a nationwide signature campaign demanding strict punishment for those allegedly involved in the reported donation theft at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
Addressing the gathering, Kejriwal said prayers would be offered to Lord Hanuman and appealed for justice in the alleged donation theft case. In a post on X ahead of the event, he invited people to participate in the religious programme and said the campaign would seek public support for strict action against those found responsible.
“We will pray to Lord Hanuman for strict punishment to those who committed the donation theft in Ram Temple, and with his blessings, we will launch a signature campaign across the country,” Kejriwal said. He added that the campaign would begin immediately after the Sundarkand recitation.
The announcement triggered a political response from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which accused the AAP of using the religious event for political gains.
Delhi BJP president Harsh Malhotra described the programme as a “political gimmick” and alleged that Kejriwal was attempting to strengthen his political position ahead of upcoming elections in Punjab and other states.
Malhotra also questioned why the AAP had discontinued the Sundarkand recitation initiative announced by the then Delhi government in 2024. According to him, the government had proposed weekly Sundarkand recitations across all 70 Assembly constituencies in Delhi, but the programme was later shelved.
The event has sparked fresh political debate, with the AAP presenting it as a campaign for accountability, while the BJP has dismissed it as an election-driven exercise.
