Congress stages protests in Karnataka over Haldwani stage 'purification', Rahul Gandhi FIR

Congress workers took to the streets in Kalaburagi and Ballari on Saturday, September 12, to protest the reported "purification" of a stage in Uttarakhand after an address by Congress president and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, and to condemn an FIR registered against Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi over his remarks on the episode.

Party leaders characterised the reported ritual as a sign of a regressive and casteist outlook, and accused the BJP-led Uttarakhand government of deploying investigative and legal machinery against Opposition figures.

In Kalaburagi, District Congress Campaign Committee president Ashok Veeranayaka led a silent padayatra from the District Congress Office to Jagat Circle, where the participants staged a demonstration in front of the Ambedkar statue. Marchers carried portraits of Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.

The protesters condemned the reported purification at the Ramlila Ground in Haldwani that followed Mr. Kharge's address on August 8. They also criticised the FIR against Mr. Gandhi, which was registered after he spoke out against the incident, and demanded that the case be withdrawn.

Among those who took part were district vice-presidents Mahantesh Kavalagi, Mallappa M. Hosamani, Dinesh Doddamani, Moidin Patel Anabi, Veerasangappa Patil, Sharanu Shastri and Harish Banapur, along with block presidents and other senior leaders.

In Ballari, the Ballari City District Congress Committee held a silent demonstration in front of the Mahatma Gandhi statue near the Deputy Commissioner's Office. The protest was led by KPCC Campaign Committee district in-charge Anand Kumar, Ballari City District Congress Committee president Allam Prashanth and District Publicity Committee president G.S. Eerana Gowda.

Speaking to the media, Congress leaders said the Haldwani incident reflected caste discrimination and alleged that the Uttarakhand government was targeting senior Opposition leaders. They demanded action against those responsible for the purification ceremony and the withdrawal of the FIR against Mr. Gandhi.

District Guarantee Implementation Committee chairman Chidanandappa, senior leaders L. Marenna, Gujjala Gadilingappa, Rudrappa, Alivelu Suresh, Sanna Nagaraj, Nataraj, Sanna Honnurappa and Jyothi were among the participants in Ballari.