BJP Leader Subramanian Swamy Suggested Pictures Of Deities On Currency Before Kejriwal
Delhi, 26th October 2022: There is a lot of controversy over the suggestion of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, in which he has asked the central government to put a picture of Hindu deities Lakshmi and Ganesh on the note to improve the country’s economy. Many parties, including Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress, have targeted Arvind Kejriwal. Although this view is not Kejriwal’s own, BJP leader Subramanian Swamy had earlier said the same thing.
Subramanian Swamy had also suggested putting the picture of Lakshmi-Ganesh on the note and said it could strengthen the currency in January 2020. Subramanian Swamy said this in response to a question during a conversation with reporters in Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh, that the picture of Lakshmi and Ganesh on the note would strengthen the Indian currency. He was questioned by a journalist for referring to the picture of Lord Ganesha on Indonesian currency.
Asked if India should put a picture of Ganesh on the note like Indonesia, Swamy said, “Now that can be answered by Narendra Modi. I am in favour. I say there should be a picture of Lakshmi and Ganpati to remove the obstacles. But Lakshmi’s photo can be used to improve the country’s currency.” Now Kejriwal has also said the same thing, and the period of controversies and accusations has begun again.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to print images of deities Ganesha and Lakshmi on Indian currency notes. Referring to the state of the Indian economy in a press conference on Wednesday, Kejriwal said that the country was going through a critical situation due to the continuous depreciation of the rupee against the US dollar. He had claimed that apart from making a lot of efforts to bring the economy back on track, “the blessings of our gods and goddesses are also needed.” Kejriwal had said, “Today I appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the central government that our notes have a picture of Mahatma Gandhi on one side. It should remain as it is, but the pictures of Ganesha and Lakshmi should be printed on the other side.”
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) strongly criticized Kejriwal’s request, terming it a “failed attempt” to hide his party’s “horrific anti-Hindu face” ahead of the upcoming elections. BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said that he (Kejriwal) is committing hypocrisy as the AAP government had recently warned of legal action against those celebrating Diwali with firecrackers. Patra also referred to the recent presence of AAP leader Rajendra Pal Gautam at a controversial conversion event where a pledge was allegedly taken not to worship Hindu deities. He said Gautam had ‘abused’ and ‘made fun’ of Hindu gods and goddesses, but he remained in AAP.
