New Delhi: A major political controversy has erupted after Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi referred to Union minister Ravneet Singh Bittu as a “traitor”, drawing sharp reactions from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Sikh leaders.
The ruling BJP has demanded strict action against Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of insulting a respected Sikh leader. Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri said Gandhi had crossed all limits of decency, dignity and parliamentary decorum by calling a sitting MP and “a proud Sikh leader” a traitor.
Puri said Gandhi may harbour political resentment against Bittu for choosing the Modi government’s development agenda over what he termed a “directionless Congress”, but that could never justify such a derogatory remark. “Calling someone a ‘traitor friend’ implies betrayal of the nation. Rahul Gandhi may have traitors among his friends, but Ravneet Singh Bittu is certainly not one of them,” Puri said.
He added that branding a prominent Sikh leader as a traitor without any basis amounted to maligning the entire Sikh community. “Before making such comments, Rahul Gandhi should remember the sacrifices made by our Gurus and Sahibzadas, the patriotism ingrained in Sikhism, and the bravery with which Sikhs serve the nation, especially in the armed forces,” Puri said. He termed the remark an insult to Sikh contributions across all fields and to the sacrifice of Bittu’s grandfather, former Punjab chief minister Beant Singh, who was assassinated by militants.
BJP leader from Delhi Manjinder Singh Sirsa also demanded action against Rahul Gandhi, accusing the Congress of maintaining an “anti-Sikh mindset” since 1984. He alleged that the Gandhi family were the “real traitors”, referring to Operation Blue Star and the anti-Sikh riots of 1984.
Earlier, Ravneet Singh Bittu released a video statement accusing Rahul Gandhi of calling him a traitor and then extending his hand for a handshake. Bittu said Gandhi behaved like royalty, assuming entitlement. “This is the hand of a Sikh which will never be extended to those responsible for the killing of Sikhs in 1984 and the desecration of our holiest shrine by sending tanks,” he said.
Bittu said Gandhi had no issues with him when he was in the Congress, but labelled him a traitor after he joined the BJP. “The truth is my grandfather was killed by extremists, and whenever Rajiv Gandhi’s name is mentioned, his name is also taken. That is Rahul Gandhi’s problem,” he said.
The confrontation escalated earlier in the day when Rahul Gandhi allegedly called Bittu a “traitor friend” as the latter was climbing the steps of Parliament’s main entrance. Bittu retorted by calling Gandhi an “enemy of the nation” and refused his attempt at a handshake.
The episode has further intensified political tensions in Parliament, with the BJP pressing for disciplinary action and the Congress yet to issue an official response.
