Editor's Pick: Delhi AAP Minister quits over conversion row

Delhi Minister Rajendra Pal Gautam, who found himself in the middle of a storm after attending an event in which hundreds allegedly converted to Buddhism, resigned from his post on Sunday. The event was held at the Dr. Ambedkar Bhavan on October 5, on the occasion of Ashoka Vijayadashami. Sharing his resignation on Twitter, Mr. Gautam said the BJP had been targeting his party and Mr. Kejriwal over his participation in the event. “I will continue to work for the party to strengthen India and will follow the teachings of Babasaheb Ambedkar and Gautam Buddha all my life,” Mr. Gautam said in his resignation letter. Mr. Gautam was a second-term Minister holding the portfolio of Social Welfare, SC, ST and Gurudwara Elections and is the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP’s) MLA from northeast Delhi’s Seemapuri constituency. The BJP had earlier circulated a video purportedly showing the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and others taking a pledge and reciting that they “won’t consider Ram and Krishna as gods and won’t do their puja”. The party had demanded that AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal sack him. Reacting to Mr. Gautam’s resignation, Leader of Opposition in Delhi Assembly Ramvir Singh Bidhuri said “only resignation is not enough but legal action should also be taken against him”. He should also be expelled from his party for condemning Hindu gods and goddesses, the BJP leader said. The controversy, meanwhile, has left the AAP in a fix. The Delhi Chief Minister had to face posters calling him “anti-Hindu” at a rally in poll-bound Gujarat. Party sources said that Mr. Kejriwal was “extremely displeased” with his Minister. Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Head over to our newsletter subscription page to sign up for Editor‘s Pick and more. Click here The Hindu’s Editorials Status beyond faith: On SC status post conversion Peace, Prize, politics: On 2022 Peace Nobel The Hindu’s Daily Quiz In which year did Congress leader Shashi Tharoor end his three-decade-long association with the United Nations, after a failed bid to become the UN Secretary-General? 2007 2005 2004 2009 To know the answer and to take the quiz, click here [logo] Editor's Pick 10 OCTOBER 2022 [The Hindu logo] In the Editor's Pick newsletter, The Hindu explains why a story was important enough to be carried on the front page of today's edition of our newspaper. [Arrow]( [Open in browser]( [Mail icon]( [More newsletters]( [Privacy Info]( Delhi AAP Minister quits over conversion row Delhi Minister Rajendra Pal Gautam, who found himself in the [middle of a storm after attending an event]( in which hundreds allegedly converted to Buddhism, resigned from his post on Sunday. The event was held at the Dr. Ambedkar Bhavan on October 5, on the occasion of Ashoka Vijayadashami. Sharing his resignation on Twitter, Mr. Gautam said the BJP had been [targeting his party and Mr. Kejriwal over his participation in the event](. “I will continue to work for the party to strengthen India and will follow the teachings of Babasaheb Ambedkar and Gautam Buddha all my life,” [Mr. Gautam said in his resignation letter](. Mr. Gautam was a second-term Minister holding the portfolio of Social Welfare, SC, ST and Gurudwara Elections and is the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP’s) MLA from northeast Delhi’s Seemapuri constituency. The BJP had earlier circulated a video purportedly showing the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and others taking a pledge and reciting that they “won’t consider Ram and Krishna as gods and won’t do their puja”. The party had [demanded that AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal sack him](. Reacting to Mr. Gautam’s resignation, Leader of Opposition in Delhi Assembly Ramvir Singh Bidhuri said “only resignation is not enough but legal action should also be taken against him”. He should also be expelled from his party for condemning Hindu gods and goddesses, the BJP leader said. The controversy, meanwhile, has left the AAP in a fix. The Delhi Chief Minister had to face posters calling him “anti-Hindu” at a rally in poll-bound Gujarat. Party sources said that Mr. Kejriwal was “extremely displeased” with his Minister. Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Head over to our newsletter subscription page to sign up for Editor‘s Pick and more. [Click here]( The Hindu’s Editorials [Arrow][Status beyond faith: On SC status post conversion]( [Arrow][Peace, Prize, politics: On 2022 Peace Nobel]( The Hindu’s Daily Quiz In which year did Congress leader Shashi Tharoor end his three-decade-long association with the United Nations, after a failed bid to become the UN Secretary-General? - 2007 - 2005 - 2004 - 2009 To know the answer and to take the quiz, [click here]( Today’s Best Reads [[Mulayam Singh Yadav, Samajwadi Party founder, passes away] Mulayam Singh Yadav, Samajwadi Party founder, passes away]( [[Supreme Court asks petitioner to move RBI to control, keep checks on unauthorised online money lending platforms] Supreme Court asks petitioner to move RBI to control, keep checks on unauthorised online money lending platforms]( [[Explosions rock Kyiv in apparent missile strikes] Explosions rock Kyiv in apparent missile strikes]( [[Union membership for contract worker creates ripples in Gurugram auto hub] Union membership for contract worker creates ripples in Gurugram auto hub]( Copyright @ 2022, THG PUBLISHING PVT LTD. 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