Rahul Gandhi Defends His US Statements On Religious Freedom: “BJP Spreading Lies”
Leader of Opposition (Lok Sabha) Rahul Gandhi has defended the remarks he made during his recent US visit and said the BJP has been spreading lies about his comments in America. His statement on September 10, while while interacting with members of the Indian diaspora in DC, had created uproar back home and many, especially BJP leaders, demanded apology from the Congress leader.
“I want to ask every Sikh brother and sister in India and abroad – is there anything wrong in what I have said? Shouldn’t India be a country where every Sikh – and every Indian – can freely practice their religion without fear? As usual, the BJP is resorting to lies. They are desperate to silence me because they cannot stand the truth. But I will always speak up for the values that define India: our unity in diversity, equality, and love,” Rahul Gandhi said in an X post.
In his DC address, Gandhi had said: “First of all, you have to understand the fight is not about politics. 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 in India; or whether he, as a Sikh, is allowed to go to a gurdwara… That’s what the fight is about, and not just for him, but for all religions.”
Following his statements, the BJP leader RP Singh demanded his apology. Union Minister and BJP leader Hardeep Singh Puri claimed that the Modi government has “gone out of its way to safeguard the interests of Sikhs.” Slamming Gandhi and his family, he further said that if there has been a time in India’s history when the Sikh community felt “anxiety, a sense of insecurity, and even an existential threat,” it was when members of the Gandhi family were in position.
The party came down heavily on Gandhi and his remarks stating that the Congress leader is trying to create a “dangerous narrative” by speaking on “sensitive issues” abroad.
On Saturday, the Karnataka BJP filed a complaint against Gandhi at High Ground Police Station in Bengaluru for his remarks, what then call them ‘abhorrent’.
