An FIR has been registered towards Rahul Gandhi, following a grievance by a member of the Valmiki group in Haldwani alleging that the Congress chief gave a casteist spin to a religious ritual held at the venue of the AICC chief’s programme, police stated on Sunday (August 30, 2026).
The FIR has been registered below varied provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) in regards to the promotion of enmity between teams and deliberate acts supposed to outrage spiritual emotions. The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, has additionally been invoked, police stated.
Amit Kumar, a resident of Jawahar Nagar and a Shri Ram Sena Dharmarth Seva Nyas member, claimed within the grievance filed on the Haldwani police station that he was current in the course of the “ritual and cleanliness drive” and Mr. Gandhi’s remarks made in Delhi at a press convention on August 29 damage the emotions of the group.
He accused Mr. Gandhi of portraying these related to the ritual as practising “untouchability” and being “anti-Dalit”.
Within the grievance, Mr. Kumar claimed that he belongs to the Scheduled Caste group and that folks from totally different sections of society, together with Scheduled Castes, have been concerned within the ritual, which, in line with him, had “no connection” with Congress president Mallkarjun Kharge’s caste.
A political row erupted after some people allegedly carried out a ‘purification yajna’ on the Ramlila Floor in Haldwani on August 11, following a public assembly held there by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on August 8.
Whereas the Congress has termed the incident a mirrored image of the BJP’s anti-Dalit mindset, the BJP defended the motion, claiming that the venue was left littered after Mr. Kharge’s rally and that slogans have been raised which have been inappropriate for a non secular web site.
At a press convention in New Delhi on August 29, Mr. Gandhi criticised the incident and demanded registration of an FIR below the SC/ST Act towards these accountable for the “purification”.
Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra subsequently joined the demand for motion, describing the incident as a mirrored image of a “reprehensible and shameful mindset” and alleging that it amounted to a violation of the SC/ST Act.
Congress slams FIR
Reacting to the FIR, Congress basic secretary in-charge Uttarakhand Kumari Selja stated, “No motion towards those that carried out the ‘purification’ ritual after Congress President Shri Mallikarjun Kharge ji’s public assembly, however an FIR towards Chief of Opposition Shri Rahul Gandhi ji for elevating his voice towards that casteist act. Is that this the justice of the BJP authorities?” First, the ‘purification’ was carried out after which, the Uttarakhand BJP president overtly defended it, she stated in a submit in Hindi on X.
And now, when Rahul Gandhi demanded authorized motion towards the culprits, the BJP authorities in Uttarakhand has as a substitute filed a case towards him, Ms. Selja stated.
That is no coincidence however it’s a deeply severe instance of the BJP-RSS’s “anti-Dalit and anti-Structure” mindset, she alleged.
“Shri Rahul Gandhi ji raised the identical query that Congress President Shri Mallikarjun Kharge ji himself had already raised in Parliament: that this act of ‘purification’ made him really feel the sting of untouchability and humiliated him,” she stated.
“However take a look at the BJP authorities’s method. Increase questions on those that carried out the ‘purification’ – FIR. Speak about Dalit dignity – FIR. Increase your voice for the Structure – FIR,” Ms. Selja stated. Why is Prime Minister Narendra Modi silent on this complete matter, Ms. Selja requested.
The BJP-RSS ought to dispel this phantasm that the worry of instances will make Rahul Gandhi or the Congress again down, she stated.
“That is the Gandhi household, which has a historical past of sacrifice and dedication for the nation. Neither FIRs nor the stress of energy can intimidate or silence this voice,” she asserted.
The Congress will give a becoming response to this via democratic and authorized means, Ms. Selja stated.
“The struggle towards the casteist mentality behind the ‘purification’ — and for the safety of Dalit dignity and the Structure — shall be waged with full pressure,” she stated.
Congress’ media and publicity division head Pawan Khera urged folks to cease making a problem out of the FIR towards Gandhi.
“Will heavens fall that an individual towards whom the BJP has filed 40-50 instances throughout the nation has another FIR lodged towards him?” Mr. Khera stated in a submit in Hindi on X.
“The actual concern isn’t the FIR towards Rahul ji. The actual concern is that of ‘purification.’ Have a look at the intentions of the BJP and the Uttarakhand authorities. The one that raised their voice towards purification – an FIR was instantly filed towards them,” he stated.
However towards those that carried out and orchestrated the purification, not even a single FIR has been filed to today, he stated.
“Shri @kharge ji stood up in Parliament and stated that purification has taken place. It’s the duty of the Uttarakhand authorities to file an FIR. No matter else occurred, who did it, why it was accomplished – that may come to mild within the investigation. So why the worry of registering an FIR?” Mr. Khera stated.
Why precisely is the BJP and the Uttarakhand authorities shying away from an FIR towards the purification, he requested.
“Have they got no intention in any respect of making certain the dignity and justice of Dalits?” Mr. Khera stated.
Printed – August 31, 2026 08:21 am IST
