Union Minister Hardeep Puri has launched a sharp critique against Congress MP Rahul Gandhi following his recent comments made during an event in the United States. Puri condemned Gandhi for criticizing the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and framing the political conflict between the BJP and Congress as an ideological battle involving religious freedoms, such as the right of Sikhs to wear turbans. According to Puri, Gandhi's remarks represent a "dangerous narrative" that misrepresents the situation to the Indian diaspora, particularly targeting communities with limited connections to India.

Puri’s attack extended to Gandhi’s general criticism of the Indian government and its legal system, as well as his comments about the fairness of the recent elections and the seizure of Congress's bank accounts. Puri highlighted that Gandhi's statements, made from a position of international prominence as the Leader of the Opposition, have ignored India's progress over the past decade and instead focused on alleged grievances.

Adding to the controversy, BJP National Secretary Manjinder Singh Sirsa also denounced Gandhi’s comments, accusing him of using "hateful words" against the Sikh community and suggesting that Gandhi's rhetoric is divisive. Sirsa emphasized that Gandhi's remarks on Sikh religious practices, including wearing turbans and carrying religious symbols, are baseless and damaging to communal harmony.

In response to Gandhi's comparison of the BJP’s approach to governance with a dish where some ingredients are prioritized over others, Puri and Sirsa both asserted that Gandhi’s statements are misleading and fail to address the real issues faced by the Indian people. The debate underscores the ongoing tension between the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress, with each side accusing the other of undermining national unity and security.