'Dangerous Narrative': Rahul Gandhi's 'Sikh' Remark In US Sparks Massive Row, BJP Sends Him 1984 Reminder

After Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday stirred a massive controversy with his remark on the state of religious freedom in India, citing the example of Sikhs, during an event in the US, the BJP slammed the former for setting a dangerous narrative on the foreign soil.

Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said, “He (Rahul Gandhi) speaks without knowing the facts. There are some sensitive issues which include our unity and diversity which has a dangerous narrative.”

He reprimanded the Congress leader for remarks on Sikhs in India and claimed that the community was scared of wearing turban and kada during the 1984 riots under the Congress regime.

“In 1984, 3000 innocent people were killed. They were dragged out of the house. These are all documented facts about this. The only time Sikhs felt anxiety and a sense of insecurity was during Rajiv Gandhi’s time (1984),” said the Union Minister.

He further added that he travelled across the country with a turban and had never faced or seen issues to what Gandhi referred in the US.

Stepping up the offensive against the Congress leader, Puri asserted that his language matches the tone of Khalistan separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who is wanted in India on terror charges. “Rahul’s language is quite similar to the fugitive from our law who lives in New York, Pannun….is he meeting him?”

What Rahul Gandhi Said On Sikhs?

Addressing the members of the Indian diaspora in Virginia, Gandhi said that the fight in India is about whether a person, as a Sikh, is going to be allowed to wear a turban in India and would be able to visit a Gurdwara.

While interacting with a member of the Indian community, Gandhi further asked his name and then said that the fight was about whether he would be allowed to wear a turban or kada in India.

“First of all, you have to understand what the fight is about. The fight is not about politics. It is superficial. What is your name? The fight is about whether…he as a Sikh is going to be allowed to wear his turban in India. Or he as a Sikh is going to be allowed to wear a kada in India. Or a Sikh is going to be able to go to Gurdwara. That’s what the fight is about and not just for him, for all religions.”

‘Will Drag Him to Court’

BJP leader RP Singh said that he’s exploring ways to file a case against Gandhi for making the controversial statement. “I will file a case against him. I will drag him to court,” Singh was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

“Three thousand Sikhs were massacred in Delhi, their turbans were taken off, their hair was chopped off and beard was shaved…He (Rahul Gandhi) doesn’t say that this happened when they (Congress) were in power…I challenge Rahul Gandhi to repeat in India what he is saying about Sikhs,” he added.

The 1984 anti-Sikh riots erupted following the assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her two Sikh bodyguards. Thousands of Sikhs were killed, with Delhi being the most affected, followed by Kanpur.

‘Defaming India On Foreign Soil’

Gandhi embarked on his first three-day visit to the US as a leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha on Sunday. Attending several seminars and community-based meetings, the Congress leader raised several issues related to India including unemployment and the ideological influence of the RSS in the country.

BJP was quick to respond to Rahul for his comments on RSS and unemployment, with agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan saying he was the leader of the opposition and accountable to the country, but “he has been going abroad and spoiling the image of the country, which is a crime akin to treason”.