Chandigarh, July 8 (IANS) Punjab BJP President Kewal Singh Dhillon on Wednesday said AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal, who opposed the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya and advocated building a hospital in its place, has no credibility when he “speaks about constructing temples in Punjab”.

He said Kejriwal’s recent remarks reflected nothing more than “election-time Hinduism” aimed at winning votes.

Dhillon said Kejriwal’s repeated references to Hinduism and temples during his Punjab visit are driven purely by electoral considerations. He added that the Aam Aadmi Party supremo’s political record demonstrates that Sanatan Dharma and temples have been treated merely as instruments for electoral gains.

According to the state BJP chief, the people of Punjab have now seen through what he described as this political hypocrisy.

Dhillon further said the same leader who stayed away from the historic Pran Pratishtha ceremony of Shri Ram Lalla in Ayodhya is now attempting to appeal to the Hindu community in Punjab. He alleged that while the entire nation was immersed in devotion during the consecration ceremony, Kejriwal chose to stage a politically motivated Sundarkand recital in Delhi.

Questioning Kejriwal’s understanding of Hindu scriptures, the Punjab BJP chief said that a leader who drew criticism for controversial remarks about Ravana in January 2025 is now attempting to deliver sermons on religion in Punjab.

He said someone lacking even a basic understanding of the Ramayana cannot credibly preach religion to Punjabis.

Dhillon alleged that whenever the “issue of respecting Sanatan Dharma arises, Kejriwal reacts differently, yet never misses an opportunity to visit temples when elections approach”.

He also challenged Kejriwal to explain what he had done during his decade in power in Delhi for the development of even a single major temple or Hindu religious institution.

Before making lofty claims in Punjab, Dhillon said in a statement, Kejriwal should first account for his government’s contribution towards preserving religion and culture in the national capital.

Concluding his remarks, Dhillon said that those who have, in his words, “plundered Punjab” for the past four-and-a-half years have little moral authority to speak about religion.

He asserted that the people of Punjab would not allow religious sentiments to be exploited for political gain and alleged that, after losing power in Delhi, Kejriwal is now unsuccessfully trying to revive his political fortunes by invoking religious sentiments in Punjab.

–IANS

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