Gautam found himself in the middle of a controversy on Friday after a video showed him attending an event where hundreds are heard taking a pledge to convert to Buddhism while denouncing Hindu deities.

Although Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) did not officially react to the controversy yet, but as sources inform, reports emerged that AAP supremo and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was upset with minister Gautam after the video of the religious conversion event went viral on the internet.

As the video went viral on Friday, the BJP launched an attack on Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, asking him to sack Gautam, who responded by saying he was a ''deeply religious person and would not even dream of insulting any deity through any action or word of mine''.

Delhi BJP president Adesh Gupta led a party delegation on Friday to file a complaint with the police here in the matter.

Gupta said this is not an isolated incident. ''It is in the character of the AAP to insult and disrespect Hindu gods and goddesses.'' He demanded Kejriwal should immediately expel Gautam from his cabinet.

BJP MP Manoj Tiwari also demanded Gautam's sacking, claiming his action could lead to animosity between Hindu and Buddhist communities.

Hitting out at Gautam, West Delhi MP Parvesh Verma accused him of indulging in ''mass religious conversion''.

''Every day news of conversions comes from AAP-ruled Punjab. Similarly, Kejriwal's minister Rajendra Pal is now conducting a mass conversion of people in Delhi,'' Verma said in a tweet.

Bhatia said the AAP leader's actions were driven by ''vote bank'' politics in light of the coming elections. ''How low will you stoop for votes, Kejriwal,'' he asked.

Bhatia said every Hindu has faith in their gods and claimed the minister's ''comments are a blow to national integrity''.

The Vishva Hindu Parishad also slammed Gautam and demanded his sacking.

(With inputs from PTI)

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