BJP's Sikh Cell Members Demand Apology from Rahul Gandhi Over Remarks

Members of the Delhi BJP's Sikh cell protested near Rahul Gandhi's residence at 10, Janpath on Wednesday. They demanded an apology from the Congress leader for his remarks about the Sikh community made in the US. The protesters, including women, carried placards and raised slogans as they tried to approach Gandhi's residence from Vigyan Bhawan but were stopped by police barricades.

Addressing the protest, Delhi BJP's Sikh cell in-charge Tarvinder Marwah criticised Gandhi. He stated that Gandhi should learn about his family's history and acknowledge the atrocities inflicted on Sikhs by his grandmother and father. Marwah warned, "Refrain from such comments Rahul Gandhi otherwise you will have the same fate as your grandmother."

Protesters Demand Apology

During the protest, demonstrators accused Gandhi of humiliating Sikhs and held the Congress responsible for the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. They demanded an apology from him for his statements. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national spokesperson R P Singh alleged that Gandhi had insulted Sikhs through his remarks.

Indira Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi's grandmother and former prime minister, was assassinated by her bodyguards in 1984 following Operation Blue Star in Amritsar. This event led to anti-Sikh riots in northern India soon after. Marwah, a three-time former MLA of Congress from Jungpura seat in Delhi who joined BJP in July 2022, emphasised that no other political party has wronged the Sikh community as much as Congress.

Gandhi's Remarks in the US

Rahul Gandhi addressed a gathering of several hundred Indian Americans in Washington DC on Monday. He accused the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) of considering some religions, languages, and communities inferior to others. He stated that the fight in India is about this issue and not about politics.

Gandhi asked a turbaned person in the gathering if a Sikh would be allowed to wear his turban or kada in India or visit a gurdwara. He said, "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."

BJP's Response

Delhi BJP's Sikh cell convenor Charanjeet Singh Lovely criticised Gandhi's statement, claiming it showed small-mindedness by suggesting that Sikh turbans are not safe in India and that Sikhs lack religious freedom. Lovely reiterated that Congress has historically caused significant harm to Sikhs, citing the 1984 riots.

Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, Singh claimed that the Sikh community is witnessing progress and feels safe in India. He highlighted that during Congress rule in 1984, Sikhs were beaten up and killed.

The BJP has strongly condemned Gandhi for his remarks about Sikhs made during his visit to the United States. They accused him of trying to create a dangerous narrative by discussing sensitive issues abroad.

The protest against Rahul Gandhi saw members of the Delhi BJP's Sikh cell voicing their anger over his comments. They demanded accountability from him for what they perceived as an insult to their community.