Shouldn’t Sikhs practise religion freely? Rahul Gandhi defends his US remarks

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday asked the Sikhs whether there was anything wrong about his recent remarks in the US which essentially pertained to religious freedom of minorities in India.

He said, “The BJP has been spreading lies about my remarks in America. 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 practise his/her religion without fear?”

In a post on X, he said, “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 also posted a video of the comments he had made in the US.

While taking part in an event in Washington DC, Rahul had accused the BJP of pushing ahead with its Hindu nationalistic agenda disregarding the plural nature of the country’s demography. “The fight in India is whether a Sikh can go to gurdwara or wear a turban and the kada,” he said to explain his concern.

This prompted the BJP to unleash a barrage of attack against Rahul with MoS Ravneet Singh Bittu spearheading the offensive. Bittu called the Congress leader, who is also the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, “the number one terrorist” in the country.

Three FIRs have been registered against Rahul in Chhattisgarh for allegedly hurting the religious sentiments of the Sikh community.