Former Delhi minister Rajendra Pal Gautam, who is at the centre of a controversy over his presence at a religious conversion event, has been summoned for questioning today by the Delhi Police. He has been asked to appear for questioning at 2 pm today.
The former minister was heard taking an oath at the event on Saturday (October 8) in Delhi where thousands converted to Buddhism. "I shall have no faith in Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara, nor shall I worship them" was the wording of his oath.
The vow is a part of 22 pledges by Dr BR Ambedkar that people take while converting to Buddhism. "These are repeated in these events organized every year since 1956," Mr Gautam had earlier said in his defence.
He was today seen signing the summons letter handed to him by the police, just a day after he denied receiving any notice for questioning. "No notice has been received. The police came to question me this evening, I gave the information asked," he told reporters on Monday.
Rajendra Pal Gautam's oath triggered a political row with the BJP terming his presence at the event "religiously divisive". It also accused Arvind Kejriwal of being "anti-Hindu".
He, however, has said it was a "social and religious event". The people converting to Buddhism were taking the customary 22 pledges given by BR Ambedkar, he said. "These are repeated in these events organized every year since 1956," he said.
The AAP leader resigned from the Delhi Cabinet on Sunday.
He also said the event - which can a lead to a setback for the Aam Aadmi Party in poll-bound Gujarat - had nothing to do with politics and that he attended it in "my personal capacity". He also said Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal "did not even know about the event" and wasn't forced out by him.
Mr Gautam, who was the Minister for Social Welfare, SC and ST, Registrar of Co-operative Societies and Gurudwara Elections, said he is resigning as minister as he does not want his leader or AAP to be in trouble because of him.
