New Delhi, September 1, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Congress leaders on Tuesday criticised the Uttarakhand government over an FIR registered against Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, calling the action politically motivated and alleging that it was intended to intimidate the party.
The FIR was registered at Kotwali police station in Haldwani over Gandhi’s remarks concerning a “purification ritual” allegedly conducted at Ramlila Ground following a Congress rally addressed by party president Mallikarjun Kharge.
Gandhi had described the incident as a crime and demanded that the Centre register an FIR.
Punjab Congress Committee Working President Raj Kumar Verka said the action was aimed at intimidating the Congress but insisted that the party would not be deterred.
Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge said the case should instead have been registered against those who carried out the alleged purification exercise. He described the FIR against Gandhi as politically motivated and said Gandhi had merely questioned what he called an illegal act and a violation of the Constitution.
Haryana Congress MP Karamvir Singh Boudh also condemned the action, arguing that the country must be governed by the Constitution rather than Manusmriti. He said Gandhi had raised issues concerning discrimination, untouchability and alleged atrocities against Dalits, and accused the authorities of attempting to silence him through the FIR.
Haryana Leader of the Opposition Bhupendra Singh Hooda said neither Gandhi nor Congress leaders were afraid of such action. He maintained that Gandhi’s demand for an FIR over the Haldwani incident was legitimate and said the Constitution should not be violated.
However, Bihar Minister Kumar Shailendra defended the action while attacking the Opposition. He said Rahul Gandhi was its “main face” and alleged that the Opposition lacked an agenda and had previously disrupted parliamentary proceedings.
The FIR against Gandhi was filed in Haldwani over his comments on the alleged “purification ritual” conducted after Kharge’s public meeting at Ramlila Ground.
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