BJP slams Rahul for invoking Guru Nanak; ‘say sorry for 1984’

NEWDELHI:The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday lashed out at Congress president Rahul Gandhi for invoking Guru Nanak, the first Sikh master, during his address in Berlin, saying his party is identified with the 1984 anti-Sikh riots and he should apologise for both the riots and Operation Bluestar.

“Rahul Gandhi is invoking Guru Nanak merely for votebank politics. For him, Sikhs are merely a vote bank,” said BJP national secretary RP Singh.

Addressing the Indian diaspora at a function organised by the Indian Overseas Congress in Berlin, Germany, on Thursday night, Rahul had said the Congress’s thought of “unity in diversity” came from the times of Guru Nanak, and the BJP and its parent organisation, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), divides people and spreads hatred.

In a sharp reaction to his remarks, RP Singh said: “We are pained to know that Rahul, who reminds us of the anti-Sikh riots, claims that his thoughts resemble that of the first Sikh guru. Actually his thoughts are in line with the Congress culture of divide and rule.”

Referring to the Op Bluestar — the military operation ordered by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi — the BJP leader also sought Rahul’s apology for the “heinous crime” in front of the Akal Takht — highest temporal body of Sikhs — at the Golden Temple in Amritsar in 1984.