NEW DELHI: After a sharp objection and protest by the Congress over his ' number one terrorist ' statement against Rahul Gandhi, Union minister Ravneet Singh Bittu on Wednesday defended himself and accused the grand old party of standing in support of Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Singh Panun.
Bittu claimed that he waited two days for Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's condemnation of Pannun's support.
"I want to tell Mallikarjun Khage 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," Bittu said.
"That person gave a statement in favour of Rahul Gandhi. I waited for two days thinking that Congress or the president of Congress might condemn this. When you did not say this, then I said that it is clear that Mallikarjun Kharge and Congress leaders are standing with Pannun," he added.
Meanwhile, members of the Indian Youth Congress and other party workers protested against the Union minister over his statements against Gandhi. Protesters holding Congress flags stood on barricades, and raised slogans against Bittu and the BJP . The Delhi Police detained several Congress workers during the protest.
Congress's Delhi chief Devender Yadav said, "We are fighting to protect the Constitution, following the path of Rahul Gandhi. We are not afraid of the BJP. Every Congress worker stands in support of Rahul Gandhi."
This comes days after Bittu hit out at Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi calling him the "number one terrorist" and enemy of India.
He was targeting the Congress leader over his remarks on the Sikh community while on a visit to the United States.
"I think he doesn't love his country much because he goes abroad and says negative things about India. I think he is not a Hindustani," the minister said.
He alleged that now Gandhi has got support from the separatists, who always talk about dividing the country. The separatists and the most-wanted persons are also appreciating Gandhi for his remarks against Sikhs, he said.
"When such people, who are also experts in manufacturing bombs, are supporting Rahul Gandhi, then he is the number one terrorist of the country. He is talking like a separatist. There should be a reward for catching him as he is the biggest enemy of the country," he added.
Earlier, during his visit to the United States, Rahul Gandhi stirred a political storm with his remarks on Sikhs in India. "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," Rahul had said at an event in Virginia.
Bittu claimed that he waited two days for Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's condemnation of Pannun's support.
"I want to tell Mallikarjun Khage 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," Bittu said.
"That person gave a statement in favour of Rahul Gandhi. I waited for two days thinking that Congress or the president of Congress might condemn this. When you did not say this, then I said that it is clear that Mallikarjun Kharge and Congress leaders are standing with Pannun," he added.
Meanwhile, members of the Indian Youth Congress and other party workers protested against the Union minister over his statements against Gandhi. Protesters holding Congress flags stood on barricades, and raised slogans against Bittu and the BJP . The Delhi Police detained several Congress workers during the protest.
Congress's Delhi chief Devender Yadav said, "We are fighting to protect the Constitution, following the path of Rahul Gandhi. We are not afraid of the BJP. Every Congress worker stands in support of Rahul Gandhi."
This comes days after Bittu hit out at Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi calling him the "number one terrorist" and enemy of India.
He was targeting the Congress leader over his remarks on the Sikh community while on a visit to the United States.
"I think he doesn't love his country much because he goes abroad and says negative things about India. I think he is not a Hindustani," the minister said.
He alleged that now Gandhi has got support from the separatists, who always talk about dividing the country. The separatists and the most-wanted persons are also appreciating Gandhi for his remarks against Sikhs, he said.
"When such people, who are also experts in manufacturing bombs, are supporting Rahul Gandhi, then he is the number one terrorist of the country. He is talking like a separatist. There should be a reward for catching him as he is the biggest enemy of the country," he added.
Earlier, during his visit to the United States, Rahul Gandhi stirred a political storm with his remarks on Sikhs in India. "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," Rahul had said at an event in Virginia.
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