BJP minister booked for calling Rahul Gandhi 'number one terrorist'

NEW DELHI: An FIR has been lodged against Union minister Ravneet Singh Bittu for his alleged comments targeting Congress leader Rahul Gandhi regarding his statements made in the US about the Sikh community's condition in India, police confirmed on Thursday. The complaint was filed by a Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee official.

In his comments, Bittu said, “If those ‘manufacturing bombs’ were supporting him, he is the ‘number one terrorist’.” The Congress party condemned Bittu’s statement, describing it as “senseless.”

The FIR, registered at High Grounds police station, includes charges under sections 353 (2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Act, which pertains to making or circulating false information, 192 (provoking riots), and 196 (promoting enmity between different groups).

Bittu, who serves as minister of State for Railways, made headlines on Sunday after he labelled Rahul Gandhi a "number one terrorist" in response to Gandhi’s remarks about the condition of Sikhs in India. Bittu’s remarks followed Gandhi’s statements about Sikhs being limited in their ability to wear traditional symbols such as turbans and kadas or to visit Gurudwaras.

In a video message, Bittu said, "I want to tell Mallikarjun Kharge and every Congress worker that you can happily protest against me if this makes the Gandhi family happy. When Rahul Gandhi said something against Sikhs, he was supported by the biggest enemy of the country, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who is conducting a referendum for Khalistan. That person gave a statement in favour of Rahul Gandhi."



Clarifying his controversial remarks, Bittu said in a video message on Wednesday that his comments were in response to Congress's silence over Gurpatwant Singh Pannun’s support for Gandhi’s statements. Pannun, a Khalistani separatist and co-founder of the banned SFJ, had praised Gandhi’s remarks, leading Bittu to accuse the Congress party of aligning with Pannun.

Bittu said, “When Rahul Gandhi said something against Sikhs, he was supported by the biggest enemy of the country, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun... Whatever Rahul Gandhi said about Sikhs, it was endorsed by the most dangerous terrorist. When you did not say this, then I said that it is clear that Mallikarjun Kharge and Congress leaders are standing with Pannun.”

Meanwhile, regarding the FIR Bittu said that, he stands by his comments and is not afraid of police complaints.

In response, Himachal Pradesh chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu criticised Bittu’s remarks, suggesting they were a ploy to attract attention and criticising BJP leadership for allowing such statements. Sukhu remarked, “The BJP is making their junior leaders make remarks against him (Rahul Gandhi)... National President JP Nadda should control such leaders.”

Rahul Gandhi’s comments about the Sikh community, which he made during his US visit, sparked a political uproar. Pannun had supported Gandhi’s statements, further fuelling the controversy. The Congress party has since lodged additional complaints against three other NDA leaders for their remarks against Gandhi, with protests held in Delhi against Bittu and other BJP leaders.

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