AAP Delhi Minister resigns over Conversion Event Dispute

Digital Desk: Rajendra Pal Gautam, the Delhi Social Welfare Minister, resigned today after the BJP protested his attendance at a religious conversion event in Delhi on Friday. 

Mr Gautam tweeted following his resignation: "Today is Maharishi Valmiki ji's manifestation day, as well as the death anniversary of Manyavar Kanshi Ram Saheb. Today, by a strange coincidence, I have been released from many chains and reborn. Now, without hesitation, I will continue to fight for human rights and to expose societal crimes."

Mr Gautam's resignation is notable because his attendance at the religious conversion event provided the BJP with fodder to criticise the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which claims to be the primary rival to the ruling BJP in Gujarat, where assembly elections are set to take place later this year. 

After being accused of attending a religious conversion event where Hindu deities were condemned, the AAP politician came under fire from the BJP and sparked criticism for Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Hundreds of people pledged to convert to Buddhism at the ceremony. 

Following the event, the BJP went after Mr Kejriwal, demanding that he fire Mr Gautam.

Before Mr Kejriwal's rally in Gujarat's Vadodara yesterday, AAP workers destroyed anti-AAP placards. Workers removed all anti-AAP posters and banners up along the party chief's route to the gathering venue. 

Protesting purported "anti-Hindu" sentiments by Mr Gautam, fans of the ruling BJP tore AAP flags before yesterday's 'Tiranga Rally' in Gujarat's Vadodara. 

While addressing a party rally in Vadodara yesterday and singing "Jai Shri Ram," Mr Kejriwal responded, "Main Hanuman ka bhakt hun." Or ye Kansa ki aulaad hain (I am a devotee of Hanuman, while they are Kansa's descendants.)

He continued: "Janmashtami is the day I was born. God has sent me with a specific mission: to eradicate Kansa ki aulaad and the corrupt."