FIR Against Ravneet Bittu: An FIR has been registered against Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu in Bengaluru for his controversial remarks against the Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi. Bittu had called Rahul Gandhi ‘number one terrorist’ as he lashed out at him for his remarks on the Sikh community during his US visit.
The FIR was registered on Thursday on the basis of a complaint filed at the High Grounds police station in Bengaluru by the Congress leaders.
On Wednesday, several Congress leaders and workers staged a protest in Delhi over Bittu’s statement against Rahul Gandhi. A police complaint was also filed against the Minister of State for Railways by Congress leader Ajay Maken on September 18. Additionally, complaints were also filed against three other leaders including BJP’s Tarvinder Singh Marvah, UP Minister Raghuraj Singh, and Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Gaikwad for their remarks against Rahul Gandhi.
The row was triggered after Bittu called Rahul Gandhi a "terrorist", saying that his remarks on the condition of Sikhs in India during his US visit were appreciated by separatists. "He has got support from separatists, who always talk about dividing this country. They (separatists) and the most-wanted persons are also appreciating Rahul Gandhi for his remarks against Sikhs. When such people, who are also experts in manufacturing bombs, are supporting Rahul Gandhi, then he is the number one terrorist of the country. He is talking like a separatist. There should be a reward for catching him as he is the biggest enemy of the country," the Union Minister said.
Bittu had also said on Wednesday that he called Rahul Gandhi a “terrorist” as neither the Congress party nor its president Malikarjun Kharge condemned Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun’s statement backing Rahul Gandhi’s comments on Sikhs. The Union Minister clarified that he had been waiting for the party to distance itself from Pannun’s statement, which the party did not do.
“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….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,” he said.
Rahul Gandhi’s comments on Sikhs during his US visit, are one of his many other statements that sparked a political storm in India. Speaking about the Sikh community in India, he alleged that they might not be allowed to practice their religion freely in the country.
“The fight is about whether he, as a Sikh, is going to be allowed to wear a turban in India; or whether, he, as a Sikh, will be allowed to wear a kada in India; or whether he, as a Sikh, is allowed to go to a Gurudwara. That’s what the fight is about, and not just for him, but for all religion," Gandhi had said.