‘If Sikhs faced existential threat it was during…’: Hardeep Singh Puri counters Rahul’s remarks

Hardeep Singh Puri

Reacting strongly to Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi’s remark on the Sikh community, Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri categorically stated that the Sikh community has never felt more safe and honoured than under the current BJP-led dispensation. Calling out Gandhi, Puri challenged him to repeat his comments in India, with a warning of legal action.

Rahul Gandhi, who is currently touring the United States, said that fight is about whether a Sikh, is going to be allowed to wear a turban in India and would be able to visit a Gurdwara.

"First of all, you have to understand what the fight is about. Fight is not about politics. It is superficial. What is your name? The fight is about whether...he as a Sikh is going to be allowed to wear his turban in India. Or he as a Sikh is going to be allowed to wear a kada in India. Or a Sikh is going to be able to go to Gurdwara. That's what the fight is about and not just for him, for all religions," he said

Addressing a presser, Puri said, “Out of the blue he (Rahul) says that the Sikh community in India has a certain anxiety that they cannot wear a turban or kada. I have been wearing a turban for six decades, and a kada. This government has gone out of its way to address the issues and concerns of the Sikh community… If there’s been one time in our history where we have felt insecurity and an existential threat, was at the time when Rahul Gandhi’s family was in the seat of power.”

Lambasting Gandhi for his ‘insensitive’ comments, the minister added that associating irresponsible comments with Rahul is nothing new, but now with him holding a constitutional post, he should more careful and calibrated in his addresses on foreign soil. Puri added that the BJP government has done everything possible to address the concerns of the Sikh community.

Earlier today, BJP leader RP Singh, referencing the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, accused Gandhi of overlooking the Congress’ role in the massacre. "3,000 Sikhs were massacred in Delhi... He doesn’t say that this happened when Congress was in power," Singh said. He further dared Gandhi to make similar statements in India, threatening to take him to court.