Leaders from the Sikh community protested outside Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s residence following controversial remarks he made during a speech in the United States. The protest, organized by the Sikh Prakoshth of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Delhi, targeted Gandhi’s comments about the Sikh community, demanding an apology.
During the demonstration, BJP leader RP Singh criticized Gandhi, stating, “Rahul Gandhi should apologise. He used the foreign land to defame India and gave a statement about Sikhs that Sikhs are not allowed to wear turban and go to Gurudwara…” The protest, which included women carrying placards and chanting slogans, was halted by police before they could reach Gandhi’s residence at 10 Janpath.
The protesters also expressed their grievances about the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, holding the Congress party accountable. Gandhi’s remarks, made to an audience of Indian Americans in Washington DC, mentioned the struggle for Sikhs to wear turbans and visit gurdwaras in India and criticized the RSS for disparaging certain religions and communities. Gandhi had addressed a Sikh attendee, asking, “What is your name, brother with the turban?” and stated, “The fight is about whether a Sikh is going to be allowed to wear his turban in India or a kada in India.”