Kejriwal’s ‘Ravan as golden deer’ remark sets up fresh AAP–BJP squabble

With just a fortnight to go for the Delhi assembly elections, the ruling AAP and opposition BJP have been latching on to every controversy to step up the offensives against each other. The latest issue between the rivals is AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal’s reference to ‘Ravan as the golden deer’ in the Ramayana, which the BJP claims is an insult to the Hindu epic and to the ‘Sanatan Dharma’.

At a recent election rally, Arvind Kejriwal cited an incident from the Ramayana and claimed that Ravan disguised himself as the golden deer and then conspired to abduct Sita. The BJP put out objections to his ‘wrong’ utterances on the Hindu epic and accused him of insulting the Ramcharitmanas for the sake of votes.

Addressing the rally, Kejriwal had said, “Lord Ram went to the jungle to arrange food after asking Lakhsman to look after Sita. Then, Ravan came in the disguise of a golden deer.” Narrating this episode from the Ramayan, Kejriwal asked the electorate to not fall into the BJP’s trap, saying that “the BJP leaders were like that golden deer”.

The BJP was vociferous in taking strong exception to Kejriwal’s remarks, accusing him of ‘exploiting’ the Ramcharitamanas to gain a political advantage. A group of the saffron party’s workers also assembled outside Kejriwal’s residence today, 21 January, in protest against his ‘derogatory’ remarks.

Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva called Kejriwal a ‘poll Hindu’.

He said that Kejriwal’s obsession with gold is not over despite vacating the ‘Sheesh Mahal’ and his insulting remarks show his disregard for the Ramayana.

“Kejriwal said that Ravan came in the guise of a golden deer. When did that happen? We won’t let him insult the Ramcharitamanas,” he told the media, delcaring he was fasting through this day in protest over the incident.

He also demanded that Kejriwal apologise for his insulting remarks.

AAP leaders, including Kejriwal himself as well as Manish Sisodia hit back at the BJP, questioning the latter’s ‘love’ for Ravan.

Speaking to reporters, Kejriwal said, “BJP men are sitting outside my home because I insulted Ravan. They love Ravan so much. I am warning the people of Delhi that if these people come, they will swallow you like demons.”

According to the Ramcharitamanas, it was Maricha, a demon in Ravan's employ, who transformed into the golden deer at his instance. When Sita saw it, she was so enamoured with it that she asked Ram to get it for her. When Ram didn’t return, she sent Lakshman to look for him. When both Ram and Lakshman were gone, Ravan came and abducted Sita.

The Valmiki Ramayana in its current form also states the ‘deer’ was Marich, commanded by Ravan.

However, scholars have suggested an earlier version had Ravan himself in deer shape as the lure.

Based on IANS inputs