Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a blistering attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi Thursday, accusing him of hurling the "gaddar" (traitor) label at BJP MP Ravneet Singh Bittu purely because of his Sikh identity. The charge, delivered in the Rajya Sabha, has ignited a fierce political firestorm, with the BJP framing it as evidence of Congress's deep-rooted bias against the Sikh community.

The controversy erupted Wednesday outside Parliament during a raucous protest by suspended opposition MPs. Ravneet Bittu, a Punjab heavyweight who switched from Congress to BJP ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, taunted the group, suggesting they were celebrating a false victory. Rahul Gandhi, visibly irked, pointed at Bittu and retorted: "A traitor is walking by—look at his face. Hello, brother, my traitor friend; you'll come back someday." The viral moment quickly polarized social media and newsrooms.

Addressing the Upper House the next day amid chaotic scenes—complete with opposition walkouts and slogan-shouting—Modi didn't mince words. "Rahul Gandhi called a Sikh 'gaddar.' This isn't just about one man; it's Congress's ingrained hatred toward Sikhs shining through," he declared. Modi urged Gandhi to apologize, slamming his silence as arrogance and warning that the nation wouldn't tolerate such insults to a community with a proud history of sacrifice.

BJP leaders piled on, with senior figure Ravi Shankar Prasad arguing the slur evokes painful memories of Congress's past, including the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. They portrayed Bittu's defection not as betrayal but as a principled stand against dynastic politics. In Punjab, where Sikhs form the majority, this narrative could bolster BJP's outreach—especially with state polls looming. Hashtags like #GaddarRemark and #InsultToSikhs trended nationwide, amplifying the divide.

Congress dismissed the uproar as BJP's diversion tactics from governance failures, insisting Gandhi's comment targeted Bittu's "political betrayal," not his faith. Yet, the party faces an uphill battle to shake off the optics, particularly after past Sikh-related controversies. As one analyst noted, such personal barbs often boomerang in India's charged electoral landscape, potentially costing Congress minority support in key battlegrounds. This episode underscores the razor-sharp rhetoric defining Indian politics today, where a single word can rally bases or alienate allies. With Parliament sessions heating up, expect more salvos in this unfolding saga.