Jain monk Tarun Sagar ‘forgives’ Vishal Dadlani for irreverent tweet

“He just knows that the Digambar Sadhus remain naked. He does not know about the Indian culture. Had he known about that, he would not have made such a comment. There is no question of apology as I am not angry with him. But the people of the society who respects me get hurt and they protest. Everyone should have the courage to say something which is wrong,” he added.

The Jain monk said he was in Delhi eight months ago as he had to address the Delhi Assembly on March 15 but the programme got cancelled at last minute.

“Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Speaker Ram Niwas Goel had invited me. The Speaker had told me that we would like to hear your speech whenever you come to Delhi. The work of the saints is to speak and make people understand…they do that,” he added.

Dubbing the incident as ‘unfortunate’, Delhi Home Minister Satyendra Jain said Dadlani has apologised for what he said unintentionally.

“I had come to apologise but he had forgiven already. He said we are sadhus…we have sacrificed clothes…we do not keep these things in mind. I think he should not have made such a comment,” he added.

Meanwhile, a complaint in regard to the matter has been received at the Chembur police station in Mumbai against Dadlani about his tweet on Jain Muni Tarun Sagar.

“We are looking into the complaint and taking legal opinion, then we will take a call on this,” Mumbai DCP Zone 6 Shahaji Umap told ANI.

Tarun Sagar, referred to as Maharaj ji by followers, was invited to address all Haryana state lawmakers on Friday.

Dadlani was critical of the speech, suggesting that it reflected an unhealthy trend of religion colouring politics.

That dude has the same education, as he has clothes on. None. I’ve no problem with nudity. I have a problem with religion in governance,” Dadlani tweeted.

“People actually trying to defend the colossal idiocy of some naked monk, addressing Haryana assembly, telling women how to live! UNREAL!,” he added.

He later deleted his comment on his Twitter handle and issued a public apology to Jains “and all others offended”.

“I apologise again, to the Jain Community, & all others offended. But I beg you all not to support religion in governance, for India’s sake,” Dadlani said.

However, the whole episode has led Dadalni to quit politics, which he announced on Twitter yesterday.

“It feel bad that I hurt my Jain friends & my friends @ArvindKejriwal & @SatyendarJain. I hereby quit all active political work/affiliation,” he tweeted.