Rahul Gandhi trying to set dangerous narrative: BJP

The BJP came down heavily on Rahul Gandhi over his remarks in the US about the Sikh community, saying the Congress leader is trying to create a "dangerous narrative" by speaking on "sensitive issues" abroad.Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri told a press conference at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi on Tuesday that Gandhi's remarks were "sinister" in nature as he tried to spread falsehood among the members of the Sikh community living abroad to "eke out a living" and do not have much connection with India."I condemn is the strongest terms the statement he has made about Sikhs not being able to wear turbans and kadas," the BJP leader from the Sikh community said.

Delhi: Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, says, "...there are two separate issues. Rahul Gandhi makes statements that I have described as 'Chakravarti class' statements. This raises questions about his own standing and credibility. Whether his political… pic.twitter.com/ONscWGKW7R

— IANS (@ians_india) September 10, 2024

BJP spokesperson RP Singh on Tuesday dared Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi to repeat his remarks about Sikhs in India. He said he would drag him to court.RP Singh said 3000 Sikhs were killed during the 1984 riots in Delhi under the Congress party's rule. Their turbans were taken off, their hair was chopped off and beard was shaved...He (Rahul Gandhi) doesn't say that this happened when they (Congress) were in power...I challenge Rahul Gandhi to repeat in India what he is saying about Sikhs, and then I will file a case against him and will drag him to court," RP Singh said.

#WATCH | Delhi: On Lok Sabha LoP and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi's statements on Sikhs, BJP leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa says, "I condemn this statement. These kinds of statements being made by Rahul Gandhi against Sikhs are not new...The Gandhi family has a lot of hate against… pic.twitter.com/V7SKWkzSJT

— ANI (@ANI) September 10, 2024

Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan slammed Rahul Gandhi over the remarks. He said as an opposition leader, Atal Bihari Vajpayee never attacked the government in foreign countries."Rahul Gandhi is the LoP and the position of LoP is a responsible position. I want to remind Rahul Gandhi that when Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the LoP, in a foreign land, he never tried to malign the image of the country.Due to being defeated consecutively for the third time, anti-BJP, anti-RSS and anti-Modi sentiments have taken root in his mind...He is constantly trying to malign the image of the country. Maligning the image of the country is equivalent to treason...Who attacked the Constitution? Who imposed the emergency? He goes on a Bharat Jodo Yatra but he is unable to unite neither with India nor with the people of India," Chouhan said.
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, too, criticised Rahul Gandhi over his statement on Sikhs, questioning the need for airing internal issues on foreign soil.He remarked, "Why go abroad and expose your own shortcomings? Within the country, such immaturity might be tolerated, but what is the point of making it so evident outside? Who is attacking India in this manner?"
Union Minister Giriraj Singh also reacted to Rahul Gandhi’s statements and said, the Congress, which has long engaged in appeasement politics and was responsible for the Sikh massacre, is now trying to lecture us. Chairman of the National Commission for Minorities, Iqbal Singh Lalpura says, "These comments reflect his mentality and thinking. Nehru family never fulfilled the promises made to the Sikhs...Even after 40 years of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, the National Commission for Minorities is trying to provide justice to the victims...PM Modi has taken many decisions for the welfare of Sikhs...BJP always promotes Sikhs...Sikhs are safe in the nation...The inheritance in India is from the father so Rahul Gandhi is also a minority as his grandfather Feroze Gandhi was a Parsi, a minority community...All religions are one. We should not make these kinds of statements..."

Delhi: On Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi's statement, Chairman of National Minority commission Iqbal Singh Lalpura says, "I think Rahul Gandhi has some old mentality in his mind due to which he is saying such things. Sikhs are completely safe in the country. Ever since the BJP… pic.twitter.com/BSoZNF7hLS

— IANS (@ians_india) September 10, 2024

While speaking at an event in Herndon, Virginia, on Monday, Rahul Gandhi said, "The fight (in India) is about whether a Sikh is going to be allowed to wear a turban...whether a Sikh will be allowed to wear a kada or go to the Gurudwara. That's what the fight is about, and it's not just for Sikhs, but for all religions".