Prime Minister Narendra Modi sharply criticized Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for calling Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu a "traitor," accusing the Congress of harboring hatred toward Sikhs. Addressing the Rajya Sabha, PM Modi described Gandhi's comments as reflecting "arrogance at its peak" and an insult not only to Bittu but to the Sikh community as a whole.

The heated exchange between Rahul Gandhi and Ravneet Singh Bittu took place outside Parliament on Wednesday. Gandhi, as Bittu entered the House, called him a "traitor," which sparked a jibe from Bittu calling Gandhi a "desh ke dushman" (enemy of the nation). Gandhi’s remark was in response to the ongoing protests by suspended Congress MPs, most of whom were from Punjab.

PM Modi, in his scathing speech, said Gandhi’s comment was an attack on the Sikh community and an insult to their faith. "He called the MP a traitor because he is a Sikh. This was an insult to the Sikhs, an insult to the Gurus," Modi charged, adding that the Congress party's actions showed deep-seated animosity toward the Sikh community.

The Prime Minister further emphasized that Bittu came from a family that had made significant sacrifices for the nation, questioning whether changing political affiliations warranted being called a traitor. He expressed disappointment that such harsh words were used against an individual who had served his country.

The remarks sparked protests from the Opposition, who walked out of the Rajya Sabha while Modi continued his speech. The Prime Minister’s comments come after a tumultuous session in the Lok Sabha, where Opposition protests led to the adjournment of proceedings just before Modi was set to speak.