New Delhi [India], September 1 (ANI): Congress will organise state-level protest marches across the country against the FIR registered against Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and demand an FIR against BJP workers allegedly responsible for a "casteist purification ritual" in Haldwani, Uttarakhand, Congress MP Syed Naseer Hussain has said.
In a post on X on Monday, Hussain said the party would resist "anti-Dalit, anti-minority and anti-constitutional agenda" of BJP governments.
"@INCIndia is organising state-level Protest Marches across the country against the malicious FIR registered against Leader of Opposition Shri @RahulGandhi ji and demanding an FIR against the BJP workers responsible for the casteist purification ritual in Haldwani, Uttarakhand," he said.
He accused RSS of having an agenda of "untouchability and caste discrimination" and alleged that BJP governments across India were "legitimising, normalising and propagating" it.
"We will resist every anti-Dalit, anti-minority and anti-constitutional agenda of BJP governments. The BJP cannot weaponise state machinery to target those who speak up against caste discrimination and Dalit atrocities," he said.
Uttarakhand's Haldwani City Kotwali Police has registered a First Information Report (FIR) against Rahul Gandhi following a complaint regarding his remarks about a "purification ritual" in Haldwani.
The complaint was filed by 26-year-old Amit Kumar, a resident of Jawahar Nagar Colony, Haldwani, and a member of the Valmiki community). Kumar serves as an office-bearer of the Shri Ram Sena Dharmarth Seva Nyas organisation.
Police have invoked provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 -- Section 3(1)(r) and Section 3(1)(u) -- along with Section 196 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, which deals with promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc. Section 199 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, pertaining to jurisdiction, has also been cited in the FIR.
Amit Kumar alleged that Rahul Gandhi's remarks hurt the sentiments of the Scheduled Caste community. (ANI)
Congress to hold state-level protest marches across country over FIR against Rahul Gandhi
