In Arvind Kejriwal's Community Service At Golden Temple, An Apology

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal offered voluntary religious service at Golden Temple this morning to seek an apology for using the image of the sacred place on the cover-page of its 'Youth Manifesto' superimposed with the election symbol of his Aam Aadmi Party - broom.

"I had come here to offer voluntary service to apologise for the unintentional mistake committed in our youth manifesto... I have peace of mind now," Mr Kejriwal said, who reached Amritsar Sunday evening.

With his head covered by a handkerchief and folded hands, Mr Kejriwal went around the shrine complex, offered prayers and later cleaned utensils at the "Langar hall", the community kitchen which serves food to over one lakh people in a single day.

The AAP chief and others, who were at the temple for about an hour, also participated in "langar" (community food).

Adding to the controversy, AAP leader Ashish Khaitan had compared the party manifesto with the holy book of Sikhs - Guru Granth Sahib and Gita.

"This is our bible, our Gita and our Guru Granth Sahib," Mr Khetan had said on the 51-point manifesto.

While sewa, or volunteer service at the temple, is itself viewed as penance, there is an expectation that Mr Kejriwal may make a separate verbal apology for the cover depiction. AAP leader H S Phoolka had done both last week.

Mr Kejriwal, who was also present at the Amritsar event, was criticised on social media, with hashtags like #KejriinsultsGoldenTemple trending on Twitter.

Mr Khetan had later apologised saying he didn't mean to disrespect the holy books.

Punjab's Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal has called it an "act of blasphemy".

Kejriwal was also accompanied by AAP Punjab convener Sucha Singh Chhotepur, former journalist Kanwar Sandhu, youth leader Harjot Bains, MPs Bhagwant Mann and Sadhu Singh, singer Gurpreet Ghuggi, actor Gul Panag and Phoolka.