Stung by criticism from several quarters, including Arvind Kejriwal, over his sarcastic tweet on Jain monk Tarun Sagar's address to the Haryana Assembly, music composer Vishal Dadlani has quit the party
AAP ki Khatir! Tweet on 'Jain monk' forces Vishal Dadlani to 'leave'
Music director and singer Vishal Dadlani on Sunday quit the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) after his sarcastic tweets on Jain monk Tarun Sagar's addressing to the Haryana Assembly offended the Jain community and led to widespread criticism, including from Delhi CM and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal.
ADVERTISEMENT
Also Read: Mumbai: Complaint against Vishal Dadlani for tweet on Jain monk
In a string of tweets, Dadlani -- the most vocal backer of the AAP in Bollywood -- insisted that the party had not shown the door to him after his controversial tweet on a Jain religious leader.
Tarun Sagar, a Digambar Jain community monk, addressed the Haryana assembly on Friday.
This is the incident that got Vishal Dadlani riled up. Pic courtesy Twitter
A day later, Dadlani called Tarun Sagar's speech as "monkery". This he later deleted. But Dadlani came under widespread attack from members of the Jain community.
Kejriwal described Tarun Sagarji Maharaj "as a very revered saint, not just for Jains but everyone. Those showing disrespect is unfortunate and should stop. We deeply respect him and his thoughts".
Delhi's Home Minister Satyendar Jain also apologized for Dadlani's remark.
"I feel bad that I hurt my Jain friends and my friends Kejriwal and Satyendar Jain. I hereby quit all active political work or affiliation," Dadlani said.
"I'm sorry to have offended you and your beliefs too, Sir. My intent was not to hurt anyone. Spoke without thinking," he added.
THIS IS HOW IT ALL STARTED:
People actually trying to defend the colossal idiocy of some naked monk, addressing Haryana assembly, telling women how to live! UNREAL! (2)
— VISHAL DADLANI (@VishalDadlani) August 27, 2016
(2) That dude has the same education, as he has clothes on. None. I've no problem with nudity. I have a problem with religion in governance.
— VISHAL DADLANI (@VishalDadlani) August 27, 2016
Egged on by some, he continued on...
I wonder how the idiots defending that shit, don't see the hypocrisy of it. Or 'hipocrasy', as they spell it. https://t.co/8zjt3UnDGe
— VISHAL DADLANI (@VishalDadlani) August 27, 2016
Everyone is entitled to believe whatever they like & worship whomever they choose. Can we just keep ALL of those OUT of Governance, please?
— VISHAL DADLANI (@VishalDadlani) August 27, 2016
All respect for Jains & Jainism.Their cocept of non-violence is what the world needs.But why 'saints' in parliament? https://t.co/XrvKphBoQq
— VISHAL DADLANI (@VishalDadlani) August 27, 2016
Nothing vulgar about nudity. Telling women how to live, what to wear, where to go, what to do....THAT is vulgar! https://t.co/XrvKphBoQq
— VISHAL DADLANI (@VishalDadlani) August 27, 2016
Get jurists, scientists, social-workers, reformers, infrastructure/management experts. Why so-called 'saints'? https://t.co/0AV7ApcETq
— VISHAL DADLANI (@VishalDadlani) August 27, 2016
And then the sh*t hit the fan and he started apologising. But their was no stopping the trolls.
I apologise if I've upset Jain feelings. The intent was to ridicule the merger of religion & governance, and not any religion in particular.
— VISHAL DADLANI (@VishalDadlani) August 27, 2016
Here's the monk addressing the Haryana assembly. Sure that's inoffensive to all. I apologise if I hurt anyone. pic.twitter.com/0dYsEflQx5
— VISHAL DADLANI (@VishalDadlani) August 27, 2016
I apologise to you too. But I insist that religion and governance mustn't overlap. It will destroy India. https://t.co/ohgkbXgn5O
— VISHAL DADLANI (@VishalDadlani) August 27, 2016
Main aap se bhi maafi chahta hoon. But please, don't allow religion in governance. That will destroy India's fabric. https://t.co/uDhwbsyBoO
— VISHAL DADLANI (@VishalDadlani) August 27, 2016
I apologise to each of you. Didn't intend to hurt you. Forgive me, and please separate religion from politics. https://t.co/s8MsOMKAr7
— VISHAL DADLANI (@VishalDadlani) August 27, 2016
Bhool ho gayee. Maaf kar deejiye. Magar dharm ko rajniti ke saath judne mat deejiye. Desh ki khaatir. https://t.co/KDr8MIkQEj
— VISHAL DADLANI (@VishalDadlani) August 27, 2016
And then Kejriwal jumped in too
Tarun Sagar ji Maharaj is a very reverred saint, not just for jains but everyone. Those showing disrespect is unfortunate and shud stop
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) August 27, 2016
After all this controversy, Dadlani decided it was time to bid AAP adieu. But that wasn't the end...
A lot is being said against AAP because I chose to quit. I just want to say, AAP is a family. Please keep faith in AK & the party! (2)
— VISHAL DADLANI (@VishalDadlani) August 28, 2016
(2) I made a mistake by offending the peaceful Jain community, and I felt the only way to truly apologise, was to renounce my ego (3)
— VISHAL DADLANI (@VishalDadlani) August 28, 2016
(3) Neither Arvind, nor anyone else, asked me to quit. I make my own decisions. I made a mistake, & I'm genuinely sorry. That's all. (4)
— VISHAL DADLANI (@VishalDadlani) August 28, 2016
(4) Never forget how hard AK & AAP have fought for all of us. AAP volunteers, stay strong & fight twice as hard. With you all, in spirit.
— VISHAL DADLANI (@VishalDadlani) August 28, 2016
His quitting the party made many question AAP about his decision.
I'm no leader, man. I'm just a guy with too many opinions. Learnt that India is safer when we all just wave & smile. https://t.co/yYlF9L4JEg
— VISHAL DADLANI (@VishalDadlani) August 28, 2016
Please. Nobody has forced me to do or say anything. Whatever I have said, good or bad, is my own. https://t.co/msMpkBMgI3
— VISHAL DADLANI (@VishalDadlani) August 28, 2016
Please. Nobody has thrown me out. I've chosen to renounce politics to apologise to the Jains I've hurt. https://t.co/LKqEKAtl5k
— VISHAL DADLANI (@VishalDadlani) August 28, 2016
All this got some supporters emotional...
.@VishalDadlani Pls dont test our patience We may do dharna outside Ur house if U leave us in middle of our fight. @aartic02 @DrKumarVishwas
— #SaveFarmers (@ItsAamAadmi) August 28, 2016
Haha! What a party that would be! AAP volunteers are the best in the world! Aa jaao! I will personally hug each one! https://t.co/sZMBUHkn4W
— VISHAL DADLANI (@VishalDadlani) August 28, 2016
In the end, the Jain monk's response said it all...
He has a right to differ, criticize. I don't care what people say about me: Jain Muni Tarun Sagar on @VishalDadlani pic.twitter.com/jQo61BblJq
— ABP News (@abpnewstv) August 28, 2016