Archive · 1 Sep 2026
Harish Rawat Holds Delhi Silence Protest Over Rahul Gandhi FIR
A disagreement began in Haldwani after an alleged purification ceremony was held at a public ground.
The ceremony happened two days after Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge spoke there.
Congress leaders said the ceremony was insulting and connected to caste discrimination.
Rahul Gandhi criticized the ceremony and asked that a police case be filed against those responsible.
Instead, a police case was filed against Rahul Gandhi over his comments.
The Congress says this is unfair and has planned protests.
The BJP says it was not involved and that Congress is misleading people by giving the issue a caste angle.
Harish Rawat protested by remaining silent in Delhi.
He said the dispute is about equality and freedom of expression.
Congress leader Harish Rawat held a vow of silence in Delhi protesting the FIR against Rahul Gandhi.
The FIR followed Rahul Gandhi’s criticism of an alleged purification ritual at Haldwani’s Ramlila Ground.
Congress leaders called the ritual caste discrimination and linked it to untouchability after Mallikarjun Kharge’s rally.
The BJP denied involvement in the ritual and accused Congress of giving the incident a caste angle.
Rawat said Congress would continue protests and planned a day-long Haldwani sit-in once physically fit.
- Who
- Congress leader Harish Rawat, Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, and the BJP are central to the dispute.
- What
- Rawat held a vow-of-silence protest against an FIR registered against Rahul Gandhi over remarks about an alleged Haldwani purification ritual.
- When
- Rawat held the protest on Tuesday; the alleged ritual took place on August 10, two days after Kharge’s rally.
- Where
- The protest took place at Shri Guru Ravidas Dharm Sthan in Sector 3, RK Puram, Delhi; the alleged ritual occurred at Haldwani’s Ramlila Ground.
- Why
- Congress says the FIR targets Rahul Gandhi for raising caste discrimination and freedom-of-expression concerns, while the BJP denies involvement in the ritual and rejects the Congress’s interpretation.
Congress’s Position
BJP’s Position
Meaning of the purification ritual
Congress’s Position
Congress leaders described the alleged ritual as an insult to Mallikarjun Kharge and an act of caste discrimination linked to untouchability.
BJP’s Position
BJP leaders denied involvement and said Congress was giving the incident a caste angle.
FIR against Rahul Gandhi
Congress’s Position
Congress called the FIR an attempt to target the Leader of Opposition for raising caste discrimination and freedom-of-expression issues.
BJP’s Position
The FIR was registered under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the SC/ST Act following Rahul Gandhi’s remarks; the article does not state the BJP’s specific response to the FIR itself.
Political significance
Congress’s Position
Rawat said the controversy concerned equality, untouchability, and an alleged attack on freedom of expression, and that Congress would continue protesting.
BJP’s Position
The BJP accused Congress of misleading the Dalit community over the incident.
- Protester
- Harish Rawat, Congress leader and former Uttarakhand chief minister
- Protest form
- Maun vrat, or vow of silence
- FIR subject
- Rahul Gandhi
- Location of alleged ritual
- Ramlila Ground, Haldwani
- Date of alleged ritual
- August 10
- Legal provisions cited
- Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act
- Planned further action
- Rawat said he would hold a day-long dharna at Lila Maidan in Haldwani once physically fit