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Arunachal Congress Protests FIR Against Rahul Gandhi
The Congress party in Arunachal Pradesh held a march to support Rahul Gandhi.
Gandhi faces an FIR after speaking about a purification ceremony held at a place where Mallikarjun Kharge had recently spoken.
Congress leaders said the ceremony may have been connected to Kharge’s caste.
They described it as an example of discrimination and untouchability.
The BJP and the ceremony’s organisers said there was no caste reason behind it.
Congress leaders want the FIR against Gandhi withdrawn.
They also want the ceremony investigated fairly and quickly.
The party said laws should protect everyone equally.
It said the issue concerns both social equality and the freedom of the opposition to speak.
The Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee held a protest march in Itanagar seeking withdrawal of an FIR against Rahul Gandhi.
The FIR followed Gandhi’s remarks about an alleged caste-based purification ritual at a venue in Uttarakhand.
Congress leaders linked the ritual to Mallikarjun Kharge’s identity as a Dalit leader and called for an impartial, time-bound investigation.
The BJP and the ritual organisers denied any caste motive or connection to the BJP.
The Congress alleged that the FIR could intimidate the opposition and demanded an end to caste discrimination and untouchability.
- Who
- The Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee, Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, the BJP and the organisers of the purification ritual.
- What
- The APCC held a protest seeking withdrawal of an FIR registered against Gandhi over his remarks about an alleged caste-based purification ritual.
- Where
- The protest took place in Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh; the disputed ritual was held at Ramlila Maidan in Haldwani, Nainital, Uttarakhand.
- When
- The protest was held on September 2; the FIR was registered on August 30, after Gandhi’s August 29 request for action.
- Why
- The Congress said the FIR should not be used to silence the opposition and demanded investigation of the alleged ritual and an end to caste discrimination.
Congress perspective
BJP and organisers’ perspective
Meaning of the purification ritual
Congress perspective
The Congress alleged that the ritual was linked to Kharge being a Dalit leader and described it as caste discrimination and untouchability.
BJP and organisers’ perspective
The BJP and the organisers denied that the ritual had a caste motive.
FIR against Rahul Gandhi
Congress perspective
The Congress demanded that the FIR be withdrawn, alleging that it could intimidate or silence the opposition.
BJP and organisers’ perspective
An FIR was registered against Gandhi over his remarks; the report does not state a separate public justification from the BJP or organisers for the case.
Political responsibility
Congress perspective
The Congress accused the BJP-RSS of promoting casteism, untouchability and discrimination and called for constitutional equality and dignity.
BJP and organisers’ perspective
The BJP and the organisers denied any BJP connection to the purification ritual; Union Minister J P Nadda had said the BJP did not support such activities and that the matter would be investigated.
Key facts
- Protesting organisation
- Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee
- Protest location
- Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh
- FIR target
- Rahul Gandhi
- Ritual location
- Ramlila Maidan, Haldwani, Nainital, Uttarakhand
- Congress president mentioned
- Mallikarjun Kharge
- Ritual date
- August 10, two days after Kharge’s August 8 rally
- Congress demand
- Withdrawal of the FIR and an impartial, time-bound investigation
Quotes
Indian National Congress
Political party issuing a statement during the Arunachal Pradesh protest
“This is not merely a Congress-versus-BJP issue. This is a question of whether the Constitution will prevail over political power.”
theprint.in
Sources
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