Congress Protests Over Ravneet Bittu's 'Terrorist' Remark On Rahul Gandhi, Union Minister Says 'Didn't Condemn Pannun When...'

Ravneet Singh Bittu said he made the remark after Congress stayed silent despite Khalistani separatist leader Pannun backing Rahul Gandhi's remarks on Sikhs during his US visit.

A political slugfest was triggered after Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu (L) called Rahul Gandhi (R) a "terrorist" over his remarks on Sikhs during US visit.

Source : PTI

As Congress leaders and workers staged protest in Delhi over the "terrorist" remark made by BJP's Ravneet Singh Bittu against Rahul Gandhi, the Union Minister stated the reason behind making the comment. Justifying his reamrk, Bittu blamed Congress's silence over Gurpatwant Singh Pannun backing Rahul Gandhi's remarks on Sikhs during his US visit. He said that no one from the party including Mallikarjun Kharge condemned Pannun's statement, despite a terrorist endorsing Rahul Gandhi's remarks, which made it clear that "Congress and Kharge are standing with Pannun".

"I want to tell Mallikarjun Kharge and every Congress worker that you can happily protest against me if this makes the Gandhi family happy...When Rahul Gandhi said something against Sikhs, he was supported by the biggest enemy of the country, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who is conducting a referendum for Khalistan. That person gave a statement in favour of Rahul Gandhi," Bittu said.

"Whatever Rahul Gandhi said about Sikhs, it was endorsed by the most dangerous terrorist...I waited for two days thinking that Congress or the president of Congress might condemn this and distance itself from Pannun's remarks...When you did not say this, then I said that it is clear that Mallikarjun Kharge and Congress leaders are standing with Pannun. It would have been better you would have condemned Pannun backing Rahul Gandhi's statement, he added.

"When Pannun and Rahul Gandhi are endorsing each other and each other's statements then what else would a person be called, what is the difference between them," the BJP leader said.

#WATCH | On Congress protest against him, Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu says "I want to tell Mallikarjun Khage and every Congress worker that you can happily protest against me if this makes the Gandhi family happy...When Rahul Gandhi said something against Sikhs, he was… pic.twitter.com/QcnUMv6dNS

— ANI (@ANI) September 18, 2024

Rahul Gandhi had triggered a political storm after he made a comment on the condition of the Sikh community in India. He had said that that fight in India as a Sikh was about whether he would be allowed to wear a turban or kada, or allowed to go to a Gurudwara. Following this, Khalistani separatist leader Pannu came out in Gandhi's support calling it a "bold and pioneering statement grounded in the factual history of Sikhs since 1947" and that it "corroborates with Sikhs For Justice's stance on justification of Punjab's Independence Referendum to establish Sikh homeland Khalistan".

Pannun has been declared a terrorist in India by the ministry of home affairs over sedition and secessionism. He is the co-founder of the banned outfit SFJ.

Congress Files Complaint, Stages Protest Against Bittu Over 'Terrorist' Remark

Earlier today, Congress filed a police complaint against Bittu for his "terrorist" remark on Gandhi. Besides this, complaints were also lodged against three other National Democratic Alliance (NDA) leaders by Congress treasurer and former Union Minister Ajay Maken for making objectionable remarks against Rahul Gandhi.

Several Congress leaders and members of the Indian Youth Congress held a protest in Delhi against Ravneet Singh Bittu and other BJP leaders over their statement on Rahul Gandhi. Party's Delhi unit chief Devender Yadav and many others were detained. 

#WATCH | Delhi: Members of the Indian Youth Congress hold protest against Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu and other BJP leaders over their statement on Lok Sabha LoP & Congress MP Rahul Gandhi. pic.twitter.com/Y0i7Bg8pGb

— ANI (@ANI) September 18, 2024

JP Nadda Should Control Such Leaders: Himachal CM Sukhu

Reacting to Bittu's "terrorist" remark on Rahul Gandhi, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said that it was done to grab attention as it is election time in north India. He also asked BJP president JP Nadda to "control such leaders."

"... The BJP is making their junior leaders make remarks against him (Rahul Gandhi). Ravneet Singh Bittu used to sing songs praising Rahul Gandhi when he was an MP from Congress in Punjab. Now he has become a Minister in the BJP government without being a Member of Parliament. He wants to be chosen as a Member of the Rajya Sabha hence he is making remarks against a national leader to grab attention... National President JP Nadda should control such leaders... It is election time in Northern India and grabbing attention through such remarks is a part of politics to divert the attention from the failures of the government," he said.

#WATCH | Shimla: On Union Minister & BJP leader Ravneet Bittu's statement on Rahul Gandhi, Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu says, "... The BJP is making their junior leaders make remarks against him (Rahul Gandhi). Ravneet Singh Bittu used to sing songs praising Rahul… pic.twitter.com/eaatJPqLdn

— ANI (@ANI) September 18, 2024