Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: A BJP-backed Sikh group staged a protest outside Congress leader Sonia Gandhi’s residence in Delhi, demanding an apology from Rahul Gandhi for his recent remarks on religious freedom in India. The comments, made during his visit to the United States, have sparked controversy, with the protestors accusing Gandhi of disrespecting the Sikh community’s security under the current BJP government.
The protest comes in response to remarks Rahul Gandhi made during a three-day visit to the US. Addressing an audience member from the Sikh community, Gandhi highlighted concerns about religious freedom in India, stating, “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; or whether he will be allowed to visit a Gurudwara.”
These comments, meant to address broader issues of religious freedom, have stirred backlash in India, with critics claiming they undermine the progress made under the BJP government. Protestors argue that the Sikh community feels more secure today than during Congress’s rule, particularly referencing the turbulent period of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri criticized Gandhi’s remarks, calling them “sinister” and accusing him of spreading “dangerous narratives” on foreign soil. Puri pointed to the Congress’s history, specifically the 1984 anti-Sikh riots following the assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards, as a time when the Sikh community faced insecurity and existential threats.
“If there was one time in our history when the Sikh community felt a sense of anxiety and existential threat, it was when Rahul Gandhi’s family held power,” Puri stated, referencing the tragic events of 1984.
The protestors outside Sonia Gandhi’s residence echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that the Sikh community enjoys more safety and freedom under the current BJP government. They demanded that Rahul Gandhi retract his comments and issue a formal apology.
Rahul Gandhi’s remarks align with the Congress party’s longstanding commitment to secularism and religious freedom, but the timing of the comments has been seen as problematic, particularly given the ongoing narrative of some expatriate Sikhs pushing an anti-India agenda abroad.
As the protest continues, tensions remain high, with political leaders from both the Congress and BJP weighing in on the debate.
