Ashish Khetan never compared manifesto with religious books: AAP

CHANDIGARH: Facing criticism after Ashish Khetan allegedly compared party's 'Youth Menifesto' for Punjab with religious books, the Aam Aadmi Party today said he never made the comparison and that some "language problem" led people to interpret his remarks "wrongly".

AAP's Punjab convener Sucha Singh Chhotepur sought to clarify the issue, saying Khetan did not intend to hurt religious sentiments of any community.

"We also heard saying this that he had said it (manifesto) was as sacred for him as Guru Granth Sahib, Gita. But he never compared it with religious books. He meant to say that manifesto was pious for him," he said.

"There was some language problem and people interpreted it wrongly and this issue is now being given wrong colour (by political parties)," Chhotepur said.

The AAP leader said Khetan tendered his apology with "folded hands" when he "realised his mistake" and therefore "he should be forgiven".

He urged opponents not to fuel the issue in the larger interest of the state and fight with them on political battleground.

He cited a 2014 incident ahead of 2014 Lok Sabha polls when Punjab minister Bikram Majithia had allegedly distorted a hymn (shabad) of 10th Sikh Guru Gobind Singh while seeking votes for Arun Jaitley, BJP candidate from Amritsar.

"But we never politicised the issue," he said.

Asked to comment on FIR registered against Khetan, Chhotepur said, "We will face the law."

Khetan had allegedly compared the party's Youth Manifesto for Punjab Assembly election with Guru Granth Sahib and other religious books while launching it in Amritsar.

The manifesto had the image of Golden Temple on its cover.

Later he had said the party never "intended to undermine any section, community or any individual" and tendered an apology.

Meanwhile, Shiromani Akali Dal today rejected the apology tendered by Khetan and sought apology by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

"If anyone needed to apologise for this sacrilege it's AAP Convenor and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal," the party said in a statement.