Protest erupts over Rahul Gandhi’s remarks: BJP-backed Sikh group demands apology
- In Reports
- 10:32 PM, Sep 11, 2024
- Myind Staff
A BJP-backed Sikh group is staging a protest march to the residence of Congress leader Sonia Gandhi in Delhi, objecting to remarks made by Rahul Gandhi during his recent visit to the United States regarding religious freedom in India. The group claims that the Sikh community feels more secure under the BJP government compared to the Congress era and is demanding an apology from Mr. Gandhi. During his three-day visit to the US, Mr. Gandhi emphasised that the ongoing struggle in India transcends politics.
Asking a Sikh member of the audience his name, Mr Gandhi said, “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 religions”.
Rahul Gandhi’s remarks have sparked controversy back home, with the BJP accusing him of consistently making anti-national statements while abroad. The criticism is particularly sharp given his current role as the Leader of the Opposition. Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has condemned Mr. Gandhi’s comments as “sinister” and accused him of promoting “dangerous narratives” on international platforms.
Referring to the anti-Sikh riots of 1984 following the assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards, the minister said, “If there has been one time in our history when as a community, we have felt anxiety, a sense of insecurity and existential threat, it has been the times when Rahul Gandhi’s family has been in the seats of power”.
While Rahul Gandhi’s remarks align with the Congress party’s secular stance and commitment to religious freedom, the timing has been problematic. His comments come at a sensitive moment, coinciding with the anti-India narrative being promoted by a section of the Sikh diaspora abroad.
Image source: ToI
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