Rahul Gandhi’s remark in the United States, questioning if Sikhs will be able to wear their turban and ‘kada’ or be able to go to a Gurdwara in the BJP-led regime, flies in the face of Prime Minister Narendra Modi sporting the Sikh turban himself on many occasions and visiting prominent Gurdwaras in the country.
Wearing a Sikh turban, PM Modi had visited Takhat Sri Harminder Ji Patna Sahib in Bihar this May. He also engaged in cooking and serving Langar on the occasion. At election rallies in Punjab this year, in Patiala and in Jalandhar, PM Modi was again seen sporting a Sikh turban while addressing the crowds.
Before this, two years ago, the prime minister hosted a Sikh delegation at his residence while sporting a turban. The same year, Modi wore a Sikh cadet turban at a rally of the National Cadet Corps in Delhi. In 2019, the prime minister wore a Sikh turban while visiting Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur.
BJP leaders have been left astounded by Gandhi’s comments, citing how the saffron party’s top leader has led by example in respecting Sikh culture.
“Sikhism is rooted in principles of equality, justice, and compassion. Central to Sikhism is Seva. This morning in Patna, I also had the honour of taking part in Seva. It was a very humbling and special experience,” PM Modi had said after his visit to the Patna Sahib Gurdwara this year.
BJP leaders also cite the landmark move of the prime minister to declare December 26 every year as ‘Veer Bal Diwas’. On January 9, 2022, the day of the Prakash Purab of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, PM Modi announced that December 26 will be observed as ‘Veer Bal Diwas’ to mark the martyrdom of Sri Guru Gobind Singh’s sons Sahibzadas Baba Zorawar Singh Ji and Baba Fateh Singh Ji.
The opening of the Kartarpur Corridor is cited by the BJP as another historic move under the Modi regime to respect sentiments of the Sikh community.
Pattern in Rahul’s Comments?
BJP leaders, in fact, see a pattern in Rahul Gandhi’s comments that target the Modi government over the issue of Sikhs. Last year in February, while speaking at Cambridge University, Rahul Gandhi had pointed at a Sikh youth in the gathering and claimed that PM Modi considers him a “second-class citizen” in India.
In a virtual action-replay of the same, Rahul Gandhi, while in the US now, again pointed at a Sikh youth in the gathering to claim that the fight in India was to ensure Sikhs can wear their turban and ‘kada’ in India and be able to go to a Gurdwara.
The BJP has strongly attacked Gandhi over the latest comments, terming them a step to create a divide. Union minister Hardeep Puri pointed out that the only time Sikhs had to be remove their turbans was during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in the Congress regime.
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