"Filled With Hate, Defaming India": PM Amid Row Over Rahul Gandhi's Sikh Jab

Rahul Gandhi's comments during his US tour have drawn fierce responses from a battery of union ministers, but no formal statement has been made by the Prime Minister.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said "those filled with hate are defaming India", in sharp comments seen as his first (and veiled) response to Rahul Gandhi's remarks in the United States last week, including one freedom for religious minorities, like the Sikhs, in the country. Mr Modi was speaking in Gujarat's Ahmedabad, where he inaugurated infrastructure projects worth Rs 8,000 crore.

The PM did not name Mr Gandhi but accused "some people" of acting against the interests of the country. "... (some) filled with negativity are targeting India's unity. Those filled with hate are not leaving any chance to defame India and Gujarat... want to do tukde, tukde (break-up) the country," he said.

He also made campaign references ahead of the first phase of voting, on Wednesday, for the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly election, hitting out at the Congress and its ally, the National Conference.