Arvind Kejriwal meets Muslim cleric, sparks off controversy

New Delhi, Nov 6: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief

has been drawing flak for his controversial meeting with Muslim cleric Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan in Bareilly recently.

The BJP and the Congress have hit out at Kejriwal accusing him of playing he communal card. While the Congress said that the ‘AAP was the B team of the BJP', the BJP on the other hand lashed out at Kejriwal saying that the meeting has exposed his real side.

The meeting has raised many eyebrows because Tauqeer in 2007 had announced a reward of Rs 5 lakh for the controversial Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen's head for her strong opinions about Islam.

Taslima Nasreen too expressed her anger on social networking site. Nasreen tweeted ‘Politicians need to go to ordinary Muslims if they need their votes, not to Muslim fanatics who are responsible for Muslim community's backwardness.'

Tauqeer had announced a reward of Rs 5 lakh for Nasreen's head

Kejriwal, however explained that he had gone to Bareilly on a religious tour and met the Muslim leader because he was a respectable person in town.

"I had gone to the dargah to pray for a corruption free India and met Maulana Raza Saheb. I met him and appealed to him that everyone should come together to save the country as it is going through a sensitive phase," Kejriwal said.

When asked about the communal card, Kejriwal said that he has been visiting temples, mosques and meeting many people. He also added that the party was not getting into an alliance with Maulana.

OneIndia News