Congress stages Bengaluru protest against FIR on Rahul Gandhi
Congress leaders in Bengaluru protested the FIR against Rahul Gandhi, calling it an attack on democracy and the Constitution.
The Congress party held a protest in Bengaluru on Wednesday against the FIR filed against Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi in Uttarakhand. Party leaders said the case was an attempt by the BJP to stifle Opposition voices.
Speaking at the protest, Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar said it was the party's duty to make people aware of the direction the country was taking. He noted that while India is a democracy, pellets were fired during youth protests, and the Centre failed to answer questions, requiring the Supreme Court to intervene.
Former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah described the FIR as a grave injustice and an insult to the Constitution. He said Gandhi had only questioned a purification ritual held at the stage from which Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge had addressed a gathering in Haldwani, Uttarakhand. Siddaramaiah asked what wrong Gandhi had done, noting that the Constitution does not permit untouchability.
Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president B.K. Hariprasad called the FIR a black spot on democracy. He urged Youth Congress and NSUI workers to protest outside BJP offices and stage black flag demonstrations against BJP leaders. Hariprasad stressed the need to protect the Constitution, adding that when the party failed, Gen Z stopped Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, and warned that the country's future would be insecure otherwise.