New Delhi, August 31, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Congress on Monday described the FIR registered against Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi over his remarks on the alleged “purification” of a venue by Uttarakhand Police as evidence of the BJP’s “frustration, desperation and anti-Dalit mindset”.
Congress MP Kumari Selja questioned how permission was granted for the alleged ritual at the venue where party president Mallikarjun Kharge’s programme was held.
Speaking to IANS, Selja said the BJP was in power both at the Centre and in Uttarakhand and questioned whether the government endorsed the kind of thinking reflected in the alleged “purification” exercise.
“Considering what happened with the Congress President, and this so-called ‘purification’ ritual they conducted, how did you give permission for that? Do you accept this type of thinking? Tell us about that,” she said.
Selja defended Rahul Gandhi’s remarks and questioned the decision to register an FIR against him. She said the issue raised by the Congress leader was one that the country would not accept.
Congress MP Randeep Singh Surjewala also criticised the Uttarakhand government, describing the FIR as evidence of what he called the BJP’s “frustration, desperation and anti-Dalit mindset”.
AAP Delhi President Saurabh Bharadwaj said the FIR appeared to be an attempt to silence the Opposition. He alleged that BJP leaders file cases against Opposition leaders whenever they get an opportunity so that they remain silent.
Police had registered the FIR against Rahul Gandhi following a complaint by Amit Kumar, a member of the Valmiki community in Haldwani. Kumar alleged that Gandhi had given a caste-based interpretation to a religious ritual held at the venue of Kharge’s programme.
According to police, the FIR invokes provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) relating to promoting enmity between groups and deliberate acts intended to outrage religious feelings. Provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, have also been invoked.
Kumar, a resident of Jawahar Nagar and a member of the Shri Ram Sena Dharmarth Seva Nyas, said he was present during the ritual and cleanliness drive. He alleged that Gandhi’s remarks at a press conference in Delhi on August 29 hurt the sentiments of members of the community.
Kumar further alleged that Gandhi had portrayed those involved in the ritual as practising “untouchability” and being “anti-Dalit”. In his complaint, he said people from different sections of society, including members of Scheduled Castes, had participated in the ritual and claimed that it had no connection with Kharge’s caste.
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