Yearender 2024: Most controversial statements that shook nation this year

The year 2024 witnessed a series of polarising statements by political leaders, sparking widespread debates and controversies over issues ranging from communal tensions to democratic principles and social justice.
Rahul Gandhi faced backlash after making factually incorrect statements about the religious freedom of minorities in India while speaking at an event in Herndon, Virginia. Gandhi claimed that in India, Sikhs were not allowed to wear turbans, carry kara (steel bangle), or visit gurdwaras. This comment was met with criticism from both the BJP and the Sikh community, who argued that these practices were freely followed in India. The community also pointed out that the only major threat to Sikh identity in India had occurred in 1984, during the anti-Sikh riots when Congress was in power.