Rajendra Pal Singh
Gautam, Delhi’s Social Welfare Minister until his resignation on Sunday, is an
MLA from Seemapuri assembly constituency. He has been associated with the Aam
Aadmi Party (AAP) since 2015. Gautam resigned following a controversy about his
attendance of a ‘conversion event’ where hundreds of people reportedly pledged
to join Buddhism as their religious faith. There are accusations, primarily
from the BJP, that Hindu gods were denounced at the event.

“I do not want my
leader Shri Arvind Kejriwal or the party to be in any trouble because of me. I
am a true soldier of the party and I will follow the ideals shown by Baba Saheb
Ambedkar and Gautam Buddh throughout my life,” Gautam wrote in his resignation
letter which he shared on Twitter along with a caption that said that he could
now firmly fight for society without restrictions.

Who is Rajendra Pal
Singh Gautam?

Rajendra Pal Singh
Gautam is an Aam Aadmi Party (MLA) who represents Delhi’s Seemapuri assembly constituency
in the Delhi Vidhan Sabha. Gautam was born and raised in Delhi and studied law
at Delhi University. He is an advocate by profession. Gautam identifies himself
as an Ambedkarite and Buddhist activist.

Rajendra Pal Singh
Gautam joined the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in 2014. He contested the 2015 elections
from the Seemapuri constitutency and defeated BJP’s Karamvir by a margin of
48,821 votes. In 2020, he was re-elected MLA.

Gautam was a
minister in the AAP government until is resignation on October 8, 2022. He held
the social welfare, SC & ST, cooperative, women and child portfolios.
During his ministership, Gautam launched the Jai Bheem Mukhyamantri Pratibha
Vikas Yojana. Through this programme, Dalit and Bahujan youngsters are provided
coaching for IIT-JEE and other competitive exams.

Also Read | Delhi minister Rajendra Pal Gautam resigns over conversion event controversy

Gautam was imbued
on controversy for attending an event where hundreds of people pledged to
convert to Buddhism. There were allegations that Hindu gods were denounced at
the event.