New Delhi: A day after BJP attacked the Congress president Rahul Gandhi for his alleged bid to justify terrorism and a terror outfit like the ISIS, the saffron party on Friday flayed him for invoking Guru Nanak Dev, the first Sikh guru, during his address in Berlin and sought an apology from him for the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
Addressing the Indian diaspora at a function organised by the Indian Overseas Congress in Berlin on Thursday night, Mr Gandhi had said that the Congress' thought of “unity in diversity” came from the times of Guru Nanak Dev, and the BJP-RSS divides people and spreads hatred.
Mr Gandhi had further added, “The Congress belongs to all, works for everyone and our work is to spread the thought of unity in diversity. Today, the government in India is working differently."
Attacking Mr Gandhi, the BJP said that the Congress is identified with anti-Sikh riots in 1984 and he should apologise for the “heinous crime” at the Amritsar’s Golden Temple, a veiled reference to “peration Bluestar” Indian military operation carried out between 1 and 8 June 1984, ordered by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to remove militants hiding, that resulted in over 400 deaths.
Slamming Mr Gandhi, BJP national secretary R.P. Singh said, “We are pained to know that Mr Gandhi, who reminds us of anti-Sikh riots of 1984, claims that his thoughts resemble that of the first Sikh guru - Guru Nanak Devji.”
“Actually his thoughts are in line with Congress culture of divide and rule,” he said, demanding an apology from Mr Gandhi for the heinous crime in front of Akal Takht at Golden Temple.
Taking on Mr Gandhi over the same issue, BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi said that the Congress president has demeaned the Indian culture and he is an immature politician.
