Delhi minister meets Jain monk over Dadlani tweet controversy

Chandigarh/New Delhi, Aug 29 (PTI) Delhi PWD MinisterSatyendar Jain met Jain monk Tarun Sagar at Chandigarh todayin the wake of a controversy over music composer and AAPsupporter Vishal Dadlani’s Twitter remark criticising themonk’s address to Haryana Assembly. The meeting took place this morning even as a group ofJain community members staged a protest outside Delhi ChiefMinister Arvind Kejriwal’s residence in the national capital,demanding immediate arrest of Dadlani. "I met Tarun Sagar Maharaj and talked about thecontroversy that arose two days ago. He said that he was notaffected by it and that he has forgiven those whoinadvertently did so," the Delhi minister said. Jain said efforts were on to politicise the whole issueand that the matter should be put to rest as the monk hasforgiven the guilty. "I feel some people are doing politics over it, the issueshould be ended now. (Congress man) Tehsin Poonawala whocommented against Maharaj-ji has not even apologised and noneof his party’s leaders, including Soniaji and Rahul Gandhi,has expressed regret over it. The mater should be kept awayfrom politics," he said. Jain said he and Kejriwal had earlier sought forgivenessfor Dadlani’s tweets. "I also carried Arvind Kejriwal’s message that he feltsad for what was said about him to which Maharaji-ji said thathe has already forgiven those who inadvertently did so," hesaid. Jain also defended Dadlani, saying that he realised hismistake and was deeply hurt over the whole issue andrepeatedly sought forgiveness for his act. "Vishal realised that he committed a mistake and wasdeeply hurt. He expressed apologies many times. It was not amatter of difference of opinion it was about a word that heunknowingly used," Jain said, rejecting suggestion that hisvisit was a damage control exercise by AAP. Stung by criticism from several quarters, includingKejriwal, over his sarcastic tweet on the Jain monk’s addressto the Haryana Assembly, Dadlani had yesterday announcedquitting "all active political work/affiliation". Dadlani deleted the Saturday tweet and tendered anapology, saying he "made a mistake by offending the peacefulJain community". He also apologised to the Jain monk onTwitter. The Haryana government had invited the Jain monk todeliver a lecture ‘Kadve Vachan’ in the Assembly on Friday. Asked about a similar invite to the monk to address theDelhi Assembly, Jain said he was not aware about any suchprogramme and that a decision on such an event could be takenby the Assembly Speaker only. PTI VIT SMN DVSMN