Debate on over printing images of Hindu Gods on currency notes

On Wednesday, Aam Aadmi Party supremo and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal suggested to the Indian government that images of Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi must be put on currency notes. His demand has sparked a huge rush of political debate.

Kejriwal, who calls himself a secular leader, has made a demand that Gods and Goddesses of only one religion become a part of our currency notes. This is seen as an attempt by the AAP to attract Hindu voters in Gujarat, where Assembly elections are going to be held in November.

The demand by Kejriwal is proof that he wants to snatch a percentage of Hindutva voters from the BJP, especially in Gujarat. So, the saffron party is ostensibly worried. The BJP wants Hindus to remember that the AAP government has been instrumental in getting a ban on firecrackers in Delhi implemented during Diwali.

Meanwhile, many Hindus are not welcoming the suggestion. I am not for Ganeshji or Mata Laxmi on currency notes. Money is exchanged with dirty hands, by people who are unbathed, and notes are torn several times. I find it inappropriate, a Twitter user wrote. As a counter, Agent Saffron says, 'Old days during the rule of Hindu Kings the coins had pictures of Hindu Gods on them. Even back then people used them with dirty hands for dirty purposes like gambling, booze, prostitution etc etc (sic).