Members of the Delhi BJP’s Sikh cell staged a protest near Rahul Gandhi’s residence at 10, Janpath on Wednesday, demanding an apology from the Congress leader over his remarks in the United States concerning the Sikh community.
The protesters, including several women, marched from Vigyan Bhawan towards Gandhi’s residence, raising slogans and carrying placards. They were, however, stopped by police at a barricade, preventing them from reaching the premises.
The protests were triggered by Rahul Gandhi's recent comments during an address to a gathering of Indian Americans in Washington, DC, where he accused the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) of considering certain religions, languages, and communities as inferior.
“The fight is about whether a Sikh is going to be allowed to wear his turban in India or a kada in India. Or he, as a Sikh, is going to be able to go to a gurdwara. That is what the fight is about. And not just for him, for all religions,” Gandhi said while addressing the gathering.
The remarks were met with sharp criticism from BJP leaders, who accused Gandhi of “humiliating” Sikhs and alleged that the Congress party is responsible for the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
BJP national spokesperson R P Singh stated, “Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, the Sikh community is witnessing progress, and the members of the community feel safe in India. The 1984 massacre, where Sikhs were beaten up and killed, occurred during the Congress rule.”
Delhi BJP's Sikh cell convenor, Charanjeet Singh Lovely, further criticised Gandhi’s comments, calling them a reflection of his “small-mindedness.” He said, “The Congress has historically been the political party that caused the most harm to Sikhs.”
Tarvinder Marwah, in-charge of Delhi BJP's Sikh cell, called for Rahul Gandhi to “learn the history of his family and acknowledge the atrocities inflicted on Sikhs by his grandmother and father.” He added, “No other political party has wronged the Sikh community as much as the Congress.”
The BJP has condemned Gandhi's remarks in the United States, accusing him of attempting to create a "dangerous narrative" by speaking on "sensitive issues" on international platforms.
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