BJP accused Rahul of insulting the Sikh community, and PM Modi condemned the comment as offensive to Sikhs.
BJP accused Rahul of insulting the Sikh community
NEW DELHI: A heated argument between Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and Ravneet Bittu outside the Makar Gate of Parliament on Tuesday, February 3, has escalated into a major political issue in Punjab.
On the steps of the Makar Gate at 11:30 AM on Tuesday, Rahul Gandhi called Bittu a “traitor,” to which Bittu retaliated by calling Rahul Gandhi an “enemy of the country.” Following the incident, the Bharatiya Janata Party accused Rahul Gandhi of insulting the entire Sikh community and demanded action from Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.
Prime Minister Modi launched a scathing attack on Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, during his address. PM Modi described Rahul Gandhi’s remarks about Union Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu as an insult to the Sikh community.
The PM said, “A respected Member of Parliament in this very House was called a traitor by the cunning young prince (Rahul Gandhi) of the Congress. How high has their arrogance reached? Many people have left the Congress, but they didn’t call anyone else this; this man was a Sikh. This was an insult to the Sikhs, to the Gurus. It is because of the hatred they harbor in their hearts towards Sikhs that he said this yesterday.”
He further added, “He said this to a person whose family has sacrificed for the country. It is unfortunate to call him a traitor just because he is a Sikh. What kind of feelings does the Congress party have towards Sikhs?”
In an exclusive interview with us, Ravneet Singh Bittu stated that Rahul Gandhi’s family was responsible for the killing of Sikhs, that Sikhs were burned alive after tires were placed around them, and that even the Guru Granth Sahib was shot at. Therefore, calling him a traitor is not only an insult to the entire Sikh community but also reopens old wounds. He added, “The people of Punjab will not forgive this; they have taken revenge before and will continue to do so in the future.”
Political analysts believe that Rahul Gandhi may face repercussions for this statement in the upcoming Punjab Assembly elections. In the state with 117 assembly seats, Sikh voters play a decisive role in 70 to 80 constituencies across 16 districts.
