Senior U.S. officials met with Sikh advocates on Thursday to discuss threats facing Sikhs in the United States, including a foiled murder plot against a prominent activist last year, several attendees told Reuters.

Rahul Gandhi defended his comments made in the US about Sikhs, accusing the BJP of lying to silence him. He stressed that all Indians should freely practice their religion. The BJP urged him to retract his statement,

While interacting with students and members of the Indian diaspora in the US earlier this month, Rahul Gandhi had talked about Sikh rights, which had led to strong criticism by the BJP.

Sikh delegations from across the country asked Congress MP and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi to withdraw his remarks that Sikhs have a problem wearing turbans, kadas and visiting gurdwaras in India.