Rahul Gandhi sought FIR over Haldwani ‘purification’, now faces one himself over remarks

Haldwani: An FIR has been registered against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in Haldwani following a complaint alleging that he gave a casteist spin to a religious ritual held at the venue of an event involving Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, police said on Sunday.

The FIR was registered under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) related 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, police said.

Complaint cites Rahul Gandhi's August 29 remarks

The complaint was filed by Amit Kumar, a resident of Jawahar Nagar and a member of the Shri Ram Sena Dharmarth Seva Nyas.

Kumar claimed that he was present during the "ritual and cleanliness drive" and that Gandhi's remarks at a press conference in Delhi on August 29 had hurt the sentiments of the Valmiki community.

According to the complaint, Gandhi portrayed those associated with the ritual as practising "untouchability" and being "anti-Dalit".

Kumar, who said he belongs to the Scheduled Caste community, claimed that people from different sections of society, including members of Scheduled Castes, had participated in the ritual. He also said it had "no connection" with Kharge's caste.

Row began after alleged 'purification yajna'

The controversy began after some individuals allegedly performed a 'purification yajna' at Haldwani's Ramlila Ground on August 11. The ritual followed a public meeting addressed by Kharge at the venue on August 8.

The incident triggered a political row, with the Congress alleging that it reflected the BJP's anti-Dalit mindset.

The BJP, however, defended the action. It claimed that the venue had been left littered after Kharge's rally and that slogans considered inappropriate for a religious site had been raised there.

At the August 29 press conference in New Delhi, Gandhi criticised the alleged purification ritual and demanded that an FIR be registered under the SC/ST Act against those responsible.

Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra later joined the demand for action, describing the incident as a reflection of a "reprehensible and shameful mindset". She also alleged that the act amounted to a violation of the SC/ST Act.