Under fire over Jain monk tweet, Dadlani says he will quit politics
Music director and Aam Aadmi Party supporter Vishal Dadlani on Saturday vowed to distance himself from politics after his tweet on a Jain monk triggered a firestorm of protests.
Music director and Aam Aadmi Party supporter Vishal Dadlani on Saturday vowed to distance himself from politics after his tweet on a Jain monk triggered a firestorm of protests.
Dadlani had on Saturday questioned Tarun Sagar addressing the Haryana assembly and also mocked the monk for appearing in nude.
The tweet was later deleted.
Sagar, who addressed the Haryana House on Friday and talked about a range of issues from politics, female foeticide and Pakistan, belongs to the Digambara (sky-clad) school of Jainism. Digambara monks don’t wear clothes -- a manifestation of their indifference to earthly emotions such as shame and also because they are not allowed any worldly possessions.
Dadlani’s tweet didn’t go down well with AAP leaders either. “I met Shri Tarun Sagar ji Maharaj last year. Our family regularly listens to his discourses on TV. We deeply respect him and his thoughts,” Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted.
“Tarun Sagar ji Maharaj is a very reverred saint, not just for jains but everyone. Those showing disrespect is unfortunate and shud stop,” said Kejriwal, who often retweets Dadlani’s messages.
“It feel bad that I hurt my Jain friends & my friends @ArvindKejriwal & @SatyendarJain .I hereby quit all active political work/affiliation,” the 43-year-old Dadlani said.
Kejriwal’s senior minister Satyendar Jain apologised to the Jain community on behalf of the mercurial music director-singer who in the past has waded into controversy with intemperate remarks.
“I apologise for hurting feelings of Jain community by my friend @VishalDadlani. I seek kshama from Muni Shri Tarun Sagar ji Maharaj,” Jain said.
Dadlani said he didn’t mean to cause offence but politics and religion should not mix, repeating his apology several times.
Dadlani, who along with Shekhar Ravjiani has scored music for several Hindi films and the two are counted among the country’s most successful directors, was also part of the Kejriwal’s India Against Corruption campaign, which led to the emergence of AAP.
He shared staged with Kejriwal in demanding setting up of a lokpal to check corruption in high offices. Dadlani also composed the “Panch Saal Kejriwal” song ahead of the December 2014 assembly polls that were swept by AAP.