'Fight in India Is Whether a Sikh Will Be Be Allowed to Wear Turban, Kada', Says Rahul Gandhi in US

During an event in Virginia, Rahul Gandhi emphasised that his current political struggle is not about politics but about Sikh rights, specifically, the right to wear a turban, Kada, and visit Gurudwaras in India. He also claimed that the fear generated by the government and its agencies dissipated quickly after the election results, undermining the image of PM Modi's strength and influence.

Herndon (Virginia): Stressing that the fight is not about politics, Congress MP and Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi said that the fight is about whether he, as a Sikh, is going to be allowed to wear a turban in India and would be able to visit a Gurdwara.

While interacting with members of the Indian community in Virginia, Rahul Gandhi asked a person his name and then said that the fight was about whether he would be allowed to wear a turban or kada in India.

Congress MP said, "First of all, you have to understand what the fight is about. The fight is not about politics. It is superficial. What is your name? The fight is about whether...he as a Sikh is going to be allowed to wear his turban in India. Or he as a Sikh is going to be allowed to wear a kada in India. Or a Sikh is going to be able to go to Gurdwara. That's what the fight is about and not just for him, for all religions."

"...I can see here in the crowd, people from Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Haryana, Telangana, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Kerala. I have been a Member of Parliament for Kerala. First, when you say, when don't understand, Kerala is a simple word, and Punjab is a simple word, but these are not simple words. This is your history, your language, your tradition. Your entire imagination is in these words," the Congress leader said.

Addressing the diaspora event, he stated that the bank accounts of the Congress party were sealed three months before the Lok Sabha polls, leaving the party with no money for advertising and campaigning.

Rahul Gandhi said, "Many of you run businesses, I can see ladies here, who run households, then you can imagine, certainly one day, if your finance department comes and says to you that listen all your bank accounts are sealed. So, you can imagine if you are running a business or household, and somebody comes and tells you, listen all your bank accounts are sealed till further notice. You don't know what to do."

"This is what happened to the Congress party. Three months before the election, our bank accounts were all sealed. Every single bank account of the Congress party was sealed. No money for advertising, no money for campaigns, no money to transport our leaders."

"The treasurer was worried about what he would do as bank accounts were sealed. So, we were discussing what do we do now, we have an election. So, many things to do, campaign etc, etc, bank accounts were closed," he added.

Congress MP recounted that he had fought multiple elections--2004, 2009, assembly elections. However, he noted that the bank accounts were sealed for the first time.

"I fought multiple elections-2004, 2009, assembly elections. First time in my life, all the bank accounts were sealed. So, he just looked and he said we have no money. And then I looked at him, I said, 'dekhi jayegi, dekhte hain kya hota hai' (we will see whatever happens). And that was the spirit we fought the election with," he said.

Further, he continued his tirade against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, claiming that the "fear of Prime Minister Narendra Modi" among people had vanished after Lok Sabha elections 2024 results were declared.

"Something has changed after the elections. PM Modi tried to create an environment of fear. Various agencies, media, and income tax departments tried to spread fear, even among small and medium-sized businesses. But, nothing worked. The fear vanished in one second. The spread of fear took years and consumed a lot of money, but it vanished."

"You can see it in parliament right upfront... And I can tell you that the idea of PM Modi, a 56-inch chest, a direct connection with God, that's all gone. It's history now. He, his partners in government, the three or four senior ministers in his government realise it." he said.