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NEW DELHI: After Rahul Gandhi called Ravneet Bittu a ‘traitor’ while passing by protesting Congress MPs at the Makar Dwar, Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri launched a scathing attack against the Congress leader, calling the remark “unacceptable” and deeply offensive to the Sikh community.”We are not just appearing here as members of BJP but proud and deeply hurt members of Sikh Community. Today, outside Parliament, when our colleague and BJP minister Ravneet Singh Bittu was passing by the place where Rahul Gandhi and his colleagues were protesting, a slogan was raised against him. I want to him toapologise, because when such words are translated into English, the nuance and sentiment often get lost,” said Puri, while addressing a press conference.”The word used was “traitor.” While it is commonly translated as “gaddar,” the full meaning is not conveyed. A traitor is someone who betrays the nation—someone who sells out the country or its secrets. This word should not be used lightly… But who is Bittu ji? He is not just an MP elected from Ludhiana. He is not just from a Sikh family that has served the nation. His family has made sacrifices, and he lost his grandfather to an assassin’s bullet. Calling such a person a traitor is unacceptable,” he added. “Rahul Gandhi used the word ‘traitor’ for Ravneet Bittu today. This word should not be used lightly, as it means one who betrays the country. This is a serious issue for the Sikh community. LoP Rahul Gandhi is upset that Bittu ji left his party, but he also told him that you will come back. Just because a turban-wearing person leaves your party, you call him a traitor. The word he used is unacceptable. To label anyone from any community as a traitor is unacceptable. Parliamentary discourse, both outside and inside the parliament, has to be grounded in decency and in decent language,” Puri added.Delhi minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa also condemned Rahul Gandhi’s remark and instead hit back: “Gandhi family are ‘traitors.'” The remarks came after Bittu, who recently quit Congress and joined the BJP, was publicly called a “traitor” by Rahul Gandhi at the Parliament premises. Gandhi said, “Here is a traitor walking right by. Look at the face,” and offered to shake Bittu’s hand, adding, “Hello, brother, my traitor friend. Don’t worry, you will come back (to Congress).”Bittu refused the handshake and fired back, calling Rahul Gandhi a “Desh ke dushman (enemy of the state).” The Union minsiter also criticised Congress, recalling Operation Blue Star and the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. The exchange reportedly began after Bittu commented on the protesting MPs, saying, “They are sitting as if they won a war.”
