Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri launched a fierce critique against Congress MP Rahul Gandhi over remarks made during his United States tour. Gandhi’s comments, which targeted the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and portrayed an ideological divide between the Congress and the BJP, particularly regarding religious freedom, were described by Puri as misleading and damaging to India’s image.
Spreading a “Dangerous Narrative” Abroad
Puri’s criticism came after Rahul Gandhi, during his interaction with the Indian diaspora in the US, implied that the BJP and RSS were curtailing religious freedoms. He referred to the battle between the two parties as not merely political but ideological. Gandhi raised questions about whether a Sikh could wear a turban or kada in the current political climate, suggesting that religious practices were under threat.
Responding to these claims, Hardeep Puri, himself a Sikh, dismissed them as unfounded and irresponsible. “He said members of the Sikh community have difficulty wearing a turban or kada… where is he getting this information from? I have worn a turban for over 60 years… and never come across anyone who expressed any sense of anxiety,” Puri remarked, emphasizing that Gandhi was spreading a “dangerous narrative” among Indian-Americans.
Referring to the 1984 Pogrom
In a scathing reference to the anti-Sikh riots of 1984, Puri pointed out that the only time India’s Sikh community faced a real existential crisis was during the Congress rule. “Yes, there was one occasion in our post-independence history, during the ‘young’ leader’s father’s time, when there was a pogrom carried out against members of my community… when 3,000 innocent Sikhs were killed in cold blood,” Puri said, referring to the horrific violence that followed the assassination of Indira Gandhi.
Puri’s statement hit directly at the Gandhi family’s legacy, reminding the audience that the Sikhs’ fears were linked to Congress rule, not the BJP or RSS. He acknowledged that during that traumatic time, some Sikhs may have temporarily removed their turbans, fearing for their lives, but insisted that such instances were part of the dark legacy of the 1984 riots, not a reflection of present-day India.
#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
A Sinister Agenda?
Puri further questioned Gandhi’s motives, hinting at a deeper and more “sinister” agenda behind his comments. He pointed out that the audience Gandhi was addressing during his US tour included members of the Sikh community who were far removed from the reality of contemporary India. “The people in front of him… they eke out a living in the US, and don’t have a strong connection with the country. And to them, Rahulji is spreading this false narrative,” Puri remarked.
In a stinging rebuke, Puri questioned Gandhi’s grasp of India’s development and achievements under the BJP. He criticized Gandhi for ignoring India’s progress over the last decade and instead focusing on negative narratives, including his attacks on India’s legal system and the outcome of the elections. “He has attacked the legal system, attacked the outcome of the election, that the Congress’ accounts were frozen… but he never mentions India’s development,” Puri noted, accusing Gandhi of deliberately downplaying India’s growth story.
RSS and BJP: Gandhi’s Persistent Targets
Rahul Gandhi’s attacks on the RSS also drew Puri’s ire. Gandhi had used the example of a thali (plate of food) to criticize the BJP, stating that the party does not understand the need for diversity. According to Gandhi, the BJP values certain elements over others, which he compared to favoring rice over dal or vegetables. This, Gandhi argued, was symbolic of the BJP’s narrow vision, which disregarded the diversity that makes India unique.
Puri, however, dismissed this as political posturing, accusing Gandhi of perpetuating divisiveness. He pointed out that such rhetoric only served to polarize communities, rather than address genuine issues. “He has let loose a diatribe against the RSS… but this is made worse because he has not gone out as a common citizen but as Leader of the Opposition,” Puri thundered, suggesting that Gandhi’s position of power made his statements even more damaging.
“Existential Crisis” Under Congress Rule
Perhaps the most damning part of Puri’s attack was his reminder of the Sikh community’s suffering under Congress rule. He recounted the horrors of the 1984 riots, where thousands of Sikhs were brutally killed. “Three thousand innocent people were killed… dragged out of their homes, tires were put around them, and they were burned alive,” Puri said, reliving the dark chapter of India’s history.
He then referenced Rajiv Gandhi’s infamous statement in the aftermath of the riots: “When a big tree falls, the earth shakes.” According to Puri, this was as close to a justification for targeting a minority community as one could get, further cementing the Congress party’s role in the violence.
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Manjinder Sirsa Joins the Attack
Echoing Puri’s sentiments, BJP National Secretary Manjinder Singh Sirsa also condemned Rahul Gandhi’s comments. Accusing Gandhi of divisive politics, Sirsa said, “You allege Sikhs in India cannot wear turbans and kada… you say Sikhs and gurdwaras are not safe in India. I condemn his words.”
Sirsa’s attack was sharp, calling Gandhi’s remarks “hateful” and an attempt to use Sikh symbols like the turban, kada, and kirpan to spread hate against Sikhs.
Overview
Rahul Gandhi’s comments during his US tour have drawn sharp and sustained criticism from BJP leaders, particularly from the Sikh community. Union Minister Hardeep Puri’s impassioned rebuttal, combined with the condemnation from Manjinder Singh Sirsa, has painted Gandhi’s statements as not only misleading but deeply harmful to India’s image. The controversy continues to add fuel to the ideological battle between the Congress and BJP as they prepare for the upcoming general elections, with religious freedoms and national unity at the center of the debate.
