NEW DELHI: Sikh leaders from Delhi BJP’s Sikh cell on Wednesday staged a protest against leader of opposition and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi after his remarks on the Sikh community in the US caused a political uproar back here in India.
The demonstrators gathered near Gandhi’s residence at 10 Janpath, chanting slogans and carrying placards as they attempted to march from Vigyan Bhawan.However, the police intervened and stopped them before they could reach the residence.
Several Sikh leaders, women, and BJP members participated in the protest, with many being detained by the police.
BJP leader RP Singh, who was among those detained, demanded an apology from Rahul for his comments abroad. “Rahul Gandhi should apologise. He used foreign soil to defame India and made a statement suggesting that Sikhs are not allowed to wear their turbans or visit gurdwaras,” Singh told ANI.
The protesters accused Rahul of ‘humiliating’ the Sikh community and held the Congress party ‘responsible’ for the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
During a recent gathering of Indian Americans in Washington, DC, Rahul Gandhi criticised the RSS for promoting a divisive agenda that considers certain religions, languages, and communities ‘inferior’ to others.
In a moment that has since drawn significant criticism, Rahul addressed a Sikh attendee at the event, asking, “What is your name, brother with the turban?” He went on to say, “The fight is about whether a Sikh is going to be allowed to wear his turban in India, or a kada. Or if, as a Sikh, he will be able to go to a gurdwara. That’s what the fight is about. And not just for him, but for all religions.”
The BJP has since denounced these remarks, accusing Gandhi of creating a “dangerous narrative” by discussing sensitive issues on an international platform and undermining India’s unity.
The demonstrators gathered near Gandhi’s residence at 10 Janpath, chanting slogans and carrying placards as they attempted to march from Vigyan Bhawan.However, the police intervened and stopped them before they could reach the residence.
Several Sikh leaders, women, and BJP members participated in the protest, with many being detained by the police.
BJP leader RP Singh, who was among those detained, demanded an apology from Rahul for his comments abroad. “Rahul Gandhi should apologise. He used foreign soil to defame India and made a statement suggesting that Sikhs are not allowed to wear their turbans or visit gurdwaras,” Singh told ANI.
The protesters accused Rahul of ‘humiliating’ the Sikh community and held the Congress party ‘responsible’ for the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
During a recent gathering of Indian Americans in Washington, DC, Rahul Gandhi criticised the RSS for promoting a divisive agenda that considers certain religions, languages, and communities ‘inferior’ to others.
In a moment that has since drawn significant criticism, Rahul addressed a Sikh attendee at the event, asking, “What is your name, brother with the turban?” He went on to say, “The fight is about whether a Sikh is going to be allowed to wear his turban in India, or a kada. Or if, as a Sikh, he will be able to go to a gurdwara. That’s what the fight is about. And not just for him, but for all religions.”
The BJP has since denounced these remarks, accusing Gandhi of creating a “dangerous narrative” by discussing sensitive issues on an international platform and undermining India’s unity.