BJP protests against Rahul’s ‘traitor’ jab at Ravneet Bittu

Delhi BJP leaders and workers on Wednesday staged a protest near the Congress headquarters on Akbar Road over Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s remarks calling Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu a “traitor”. The protesters raised slogans targeting Rahul Gandhi, including “Rahul Gandhi sharam karo, sharam karo,” “Rahul Gandhi murdabaad,” and “Bharat Mata ki jai,” expressing their outrage over the Opposition leader’s comments. The protestors are demanding the Lok Sabha LoP’s resignation and apology.

Meanwhile, Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa also slammed Rahul for referring to Bittu as a “traitor”, calling it an insult to the Sikh community and demanding immediate action against him by the Lok Sabha speaker.

The protesters gathered at Mansingh Road near Congress headquarters, raising slogans “Sikh Sardar Hai, Rahul Gandhi Gaddar Hai”, and demanded an apology from the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha.

Police said that some of the protesters were trying to climb the barricades. At least seven to 10 of them have been detained.

Leading the protest, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva said that “Rahul Gandhi not just abused an individual but the entire Sikh community, which is the pride of the country.”  Sachdeva said that what Rahul Gandhi has said is not a trivial matter. He stated that although Rahul Gandhi directly called Union Minister of State Ravneet Singh Bittu a traitor, through this statement, he revealed the deep-rooted attitude of his family and party towards Sikhs.

Delhi BJP president said that the Congress and the Gandhi family considered Sikhs as traitors in 1984, and even today, they think the same; today, Rahul Gandhi has openly expressed what lies in his heart. A senior police officer said that a heavy police deployment was made to maintain law and order conditions.  “During the protest, some of the protesters were trying to climb the barricades installed there. We removed them from there, and at least seven to 10 protestors have been detained,” the officer added.

In a sharply worded statement on X, Sirsa said the language used by Gandhi against a Sikh leader was “absolutely unacceptable” and reflected a mindset that did not change since the ‘80s. A heated exchange broke out between Gandhi and Bittu outside Parliament’s Makar Dwar earlier in the day.

“A Sikh is a Sardar who can never be a traitor. If there is any ‘gaddar’ (traitor), it is the Gandhi family,” Sirsa said, accusing the Congress of repeatedly insulting Sikhs.

He alleged that the Congress leadership was responsible for attacking the Golden Temple in Amritsar with tanks and cannons (in 1984) and demolishing the Akal Takht Sahib, calling it an act of betrayal against the Sikh faith.

“They were traitors when they destroyed the sacred Akal Takht Sahib, when innocent Sikhs were burnt alive. This is an insult to Sikhs and will not be tolerated,” Sirsa said, adding that the “poison of the ‘80s still lingers in the Congress’ mindset.” The environment minister urged Speaker Om Birla to take immediate action against Leader of Opposition Gandhi for what he called deeply shameful remarks made on Parliament premises.

In videos released by the Congress, Rahul was heard calling Bittu “a traitor” and the minister retorting with the “desh ke dushman” (enemy of the nation) jibe. Bittu, who belongs to the Sikh community, is a three-time MP and Union Minister of State for Railways and Food Processing Industries. He switched to the BJP from the Congress ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.  The incident took place right outside Parliament’s Makar Dwar, the main entrance which MPs take to enter the new Parliament building, where Gandhi was standing in solidarity with suspended Congress MPs, mostly from Punjab.

As soon as he was about to speak, Bittu passed by, saying, “They (suspended Congress MPs) are sitting here as if they have won a war.” Rahul hit back, “The thing is, here is a traitor walking right by. Take a look at the face. How he looks.” Rahul then extended his hand towards Bittu for a handshake and said, “Hello brother, my traitor friend. Don’t worry, you will come back (to the Congress).”