This is how Jain monk Tarun Sagar responded to Vishal Dadlani's tweets

New Delhi: After Vishal Dadlani apologised for his controversial tweet on Tarun Sagar's address to the Haryana Assembly, the Digambar Jain monk on Monday said he was not angry with the music director.

Talking to news agency ANI, the religious leader, however, said: "I don't think he (Vishal Dadlani) knows anything about Jainism or our beliefs.”

He further said that the question of apology doesn't arise as he was not angry with Dadlani in the first place.

"He (Vishal Dadlani) 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.

Tarun Sagar, a Digambar Jain community monk, addressed the Haryana Assembly on Friday.

 

A day later, Dadlani -- the most vocal backer of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Bollywood -- called Tarun Sagar's speech as "monkery". This he later deleted. But Dadlani came under widespread attack from members of the Jain community.

Dadlani on Sunday announced he quit the AAP after offending the Jain community.

 

The Jain monk also revealed that Aam Aadmi Party government in Delhi had also invited him for a similar address in March this year.

"Yes, I had to address the Delhi Assembly on March 15, but the programme got cancelled at the 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.

Notably, after Dadlani's tweet, Kejriwal described Tarun Sagarji Maharaj "as a very revered saint, not just for Jains but everyone. Those showing disrespect is unfortunate and should stop. We deeply respect him and his thoughts".

Delhi's Home Minister Satyendar Jain, meanwhile, met the Jain monk today. Dubbing the incident as `unfortunate`, 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.

The BJP on Sunday condemned Vishal Dadlani and Tehseen Poonawala's comments on Jain monk Tarun Sagar's address in the Haryana Assembly, terming them "indecent" and "petty".