Rahul Gandhi's Remark On Sikhs Sparks Row, BJP Slams With 1984 Riot Reminder

The BJP criticised Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi's remarks on Sikhs in the US, accusing him of spreading a dangerous narrative.

Rahul Gandhi's remark on Sikhs has sparked a row with BJP slamming the Congress leader.

Source : PTI

The Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday slammed Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi over his remark on Sikhs during an event in the US which has triggered a massive row. The BJP said that the Congress leader was setting a dangerous narrative on foreign soil. 

Speaking at Georgetown University, Gandhi said that the RSS considers certain states, languages, religions, and communities to be inferior to others. 

"First of all, you have to understand the fight is not about politics. The fight is about whether a Sikh will be allowed to wear his turban or go to the Gurdwara in India. It's not just for Sikhs, but for all religions," Gandhi said.  

Reacting to the statement, 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." 

Drawing a sharp rebuke at Gandhi for remarks on Sikhs in India, Puri 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),” he said. 

The Union Minister further said that he travelled across the country with a turban and never faced or seen issues to what Gandhi referred to in the US.

BJP national spokesperson RP Singh warned to file a case against Gandhi if he said something similar in India. "...3000 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," he said. 

"I  challenge Rahul Gandhi to repeat in India what he is saying about Sikhs - I will file a case against him...I will drag him to court," Singh warned.