The ruling BJP and the opposition Congress in Gujarat criticized the Aam Aadmi Party for removing Mahatma Gandhi's photographs from government buildings in Punjab, where the AAP is in power, on Friday amid a dispute over Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's call for the printing of images of Hindu deities on banknotes.
The head of the Gujarat BJP, CR Patil, criticized Kejriwal for his proposal and advised people to exercise caution to ensure that the AAP does not remove Mahatma Gandhi's image off banknotes, as it did in government buildings.
"Since taking office, the AAP has removed Gandhiji's portraits from every official office in the northern state, including the office of the Punjab Chief Minister. People must exercise caution to prevent the AAP from removing Gandhiji's images from banknotes, Patil told reporters in the Gujarati town of Patan.
Notably, AAP leader Kejriwal and Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann, a party colleague, spoke at a rally in Gujarat's Panchmahal region Friday before the upcoming Assembly elections.
Ashok Gehlot, the chief minister of Rajasthan and a senior observer for the elections in Gujarat selected by the Congress, criticized the AAP for removing pictures of Mahatma Gandhi from buildings in Punjab.
"Mahatma Gandhi is from Gujarat. Throughout the world, people hold him in high regard. However, the AAP has taken Gandhiji's pictures out of Punjabi government buildings. After what they did, they have no moral justification for running for office in this state (Gujarat) (in Punjab). The Gujarati people should expel them. "Speaking to media in Vadodara, Gehlot stated.
In Punjab, where the party came to power in March of this year, the Kejriwal-led AAP has replaced pictures of the Father of the Nation with photographs of revolutionary freedom warrior Bhagat Singh and primary architect of the Constitution Babasaheb Ambedkar.
When the Delhi Chief Minister demanded that icons of Lord Ganesh and Goddess Lakshmi be printed on currency notes.