Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has launched a scathing critique against Congress MP Rahul Gandhi over remarks made during his recent visit to the United States. Gandhi’s comments, particularly about the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the ideological divide with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), have stirred controversy. During his U.S. tour, Gandhi framed the political battle as not merely about politics but also about questions of religious freedom, referencing whether a Sikh can wear a turban or kada.
In a sharp rebuttal, Puri accused Gandhi of spreading a “dangerous narrative” among the Indian diaspora, claiming that Gandhi was fueling misunderstandings about India’s social and religious environment. Puri, himself a Sikh, strongly refuted Gandhi’s insinuation about religious freedoms, noting, “I have been wearing a turban for over six decades and a kada for longer… and never had a problem.”
#WATCH | Delhi: On Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi’s statement, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri says, “…I have been wearing ‘Turban’ and ‘Kada’ for more than the last 60 years and I have never come across anyone who would say that they have any difficulty in wearing a ‘Turban’ and… pic.twitter.com/Q8hWFB5DGD
— ANI (@ANI) September 10, 2024
Puri pointedly criticized Gandhi for making such remarks while holding the position of Leader of the Opposition, emphasizing the potential impact of such statements abroad. He also accused Gandhi of failing to acknowledge India’s progress over the past decade while attacking its political and legal system.
Puri also invoked the painful memory of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, which occurred after the assassination of then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. He blamed the Congress party, stating, “The only time India’s Sikhs faced an existential crisis was when his family was in power.” He referenced the violent pogrom in which over 3,000 Sikhs were killed and took issue with Rajiv Gandhi’s infamous remark following the riots: “When a big tree falls, the earth shakes.”
Puri’s criticism was echoed by BJP National Secretary Manjinder Singh Sirsa, who condemned Gandhi’s comments as harmful and divisive. Sirsa accused Gandhi of using “hateful words” against Sikhs and claimed Gandhi’s rhetoric is aimed at fostering divisions within the country.
During an event in Virginia, Gandhi had stressed that the political battle with the BJP is fundamentally ideological and affects all religions in India. He compared the BJP’s governance to a plate of food (thali), where some elements are considered more important than others, and said, “In India, everything works together… if someone says rice is more important than dal and vegetables are the least important, what will happen? That is what BJP does.”
As the political discourse heats up, Gandhi’s comments and the subsequent BJP responses underscore the growing tension between the opposition and the ruling party ahead of the next Lok Sabha elections. The ideological battle continues to dominate the rhetoric on both sides, reflecting deep-seated divisions on issues of identity and governance in India.
