“If there is photo of Lakshmiji and Ganeshji on our currency notes, our country will prosper,” Kejriwal said.
Photos of Lakshmiji and Ganeshaji can be printed beside Mahatma Gandhi‘s picture on fresh currency notes, the Delhi CM said.
“If there is a photo of Lakshmi-Ganesha on our currency (notes), our country will prosper. I will write to (the) prime minister in a day or two on this,” he said.
He cited the example of Indonesia, a Muslim nation, that has a picture of Ganesha on its currency note.
“When Indonesia can, why can’t we? The photos can be printed on fresh (currency) notes,” he said.
Lamenting the fact that the India economy was not in a good shape, he said the country was passing through a delicate situation with the rupee depreciating against the US dollar.
India’s foreign exchange reserves during the week that ended on October 14 fell to an over two-year low of $528.367 billion, a drop of $4.5 billion from the previous week.
In the preceding week, the country’s foreign exchange reserves were at $532.868 billion, RBI data showed.
“We all want India to be rich and every family here to be prosperous. We have to open schools and hospitals on a large scale,” he added.
Kejriwal also said the Aam Aadmi Party was fully prepared for the Municipal Corporation of Delhi polls and stressed that the people of the national capital would reject the BJP.
He also challenged the BJP to cite one good work it had done in Gujarat, where it has run a government for the last 27 years.
“All demonic powers aligned against us,” Kejriwal said on the upcoming polls in Gujarat.
The Delhi chief minister also lauded the efforts of Delhi residents for the decline in the city’s pollution levels.
“We are still not satisfied. We want to make Delhi the city with the cleanest air,” he said.
Height of U-turn: BJP
Taking a dig at Kejriwal, the BJP cited past comments of the Delhi chief minister to claim that his demand is the height of U-turn as he is “trying” to be a Hindu.
His hypocrisy is on show, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra told reporters as he noted that the Aam Aadmi Party government had recently warned people celebrating Diwali with firecrackers of legal action.
Patra also referred to AAP leader Rajendra Pal Gautam’s presence at a controversial religious conversion event recently where pledge to not worship Hindu deities was taken.
The BJP spokesperson also noted that Kejriwal had once spoken against the construction of Ram temple and said a hospital should be built at the site in Ayodhya.
“Arvind Kejriwal’s politics is now taking a U-turn… He’s the same man who declined to ever go to Ayodhya’s Ram temple, claiming god won’t accept the prayers offered there… He’s the same man who laughed and called exodus of Kashmiri Pandits a lie, in Parliament,” Patra said.
Echoing similar views, BJP MP Manoj Tiwari claimed that AAP leaders “abused” Hindu gods and said many things, yet they remain in the party.
“They’re bringing new tactics to save face in polls. Those who objected to Ram Mandir have come with a new mask,” the former Delhi BJP chief said.
Later, Congress also took a dig at Kejriwal, accusing him of playing vote bank politics.
“He is the B team of BJP and RSS. He doesn’t have any understanding. It is his vote politics. If he goes to Pakistan, he can also say that I am Pakistani, so vote for me,” Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit told ANI.
(With inputs from agencies)Watch ‘Need Lakshmi-Ganesh photos on currency notes for India’s prosperity’: Kejriwal urges PM Modi