Karnataka Congress workers protest FIR against Rahul Gandhi over 'purification' remarks
Kalaburagi Congress workers burnt tyres in protest against FIR on Rahul Gandhi's remarks on alleged purification ritual after Kharge's rally.
Congress workers and leaders in Kalaburagi staged a protest on Tuesday against the FIR registered against Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi over his remarks on an alleged 'purification' ritual. The demonstration took place outside the Mini Vidhana Soudha, where protesters burnt tyres to express their anger.
The controversy stems from an incident on August 8, when a ritual was reportedly conducted at a venue in Haldwani, Uttarakhand, after Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge addressed a rally. Gandhi had earlier demanded action under the SC/ST Act against those responsible, calling the act a manifestation of untouchability.
Protesting workers questioned why a case was filed against Gandhi instead of those who allegedly performed the ritual. They argued that the incident highlighted the discrimination faced by Dalits and that Gandhi had raised the issue to draw attention to the treatment of a senior Dalit leader.
The Haldwani City Kotwali police registered the FIR on August 30 based on a complaint by Amit Kumar, a local resident and office-bearer of the Shri Ram Sena Dharmarth Seva Nyas. The complaint alleged that Gandhi's remarks hurt the sentiments of the Scheduled Caste community.
Congress workers warned that if the FIR is not withdrawn and action is not taken against those responsible for the ritual, the party would launch a nationwide protest. Among those present at the Kalaburagi protest were MLAs M.Y. Patil and B.R. Patil, MLC Jagdev Guttedar, and Kalaburagi Urban Development Authority chairman Mazhar Alam Khan.