Explained: The History Behind Sikh Outrage Over 'Gaddar' Remark

Rahul Gandhi's use of the word "gaddar" against Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu has triggered widespread outrage among sections of the Sikh community, not merely as a political insult but as a deeply sensitive historical wound. Critics say the remark strikes at Sikh values of loyalty and sacrifice, revives memories of Sikhs being branded traitors after Indira Gandhi's assassination, recalls the trauma of the 1984 anti-Sikh violence, and reopens unresolved scars linked to Operation Blue Star and the Congress party's past actions. The controversy underscores why language carries exceptional weight when it intersects with history, identity, and collective memory.