New Delhi: An FIR has been registered against Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi at Haldwani Kotwali police station in Uttarakhand’s Nainital district over his remarks concerning an alleged “purification ritual” at the city’s Ramlila Ground.
The case was registered following a complaint by Amit Kumar, a 26 year old resident of Jawahar Nagar Colony. Police said an investigation into the allegations is underway.
The complainant identified himself as a member of the Scheduled Caste Valmiki community and said he is associated with the Shri Ram Sena Dharmarth Seva Nyas. The FIR invokes provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, along with Section 196 and Section 299 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
The complaint relates to remarks Gandhi made during a press conference in New Delhi on August 29. The complainant alleged that Gandhi described a cleaning and havan ritual conducted at the venue as an act of untouchability and an atrocity against the Scheduled Caste community without establishing the circumstances behind the event.
Gandhi had earlier demanded an FIR against those responsible for the alleged ritual, claiming that the incident amounted to caste discrimination. He argued that carrying out a purification ceremony after Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge addressed a rally at the venue reflected the continued practice of untouchability.
The controversy dates back to August 8, when Kharge addressed a Congress rally at the Ramlila Ground. Uttarakhand Congress leaders alleged that a purification ceremony was subsequently conducted because Kharge belongs to the Dalit community and called for a police investigation.
The BJP has rejected the allegations and denied any connection with the organisation involved. BJP leaders accused the Congress of attempting to politicise the issue and create divisions along caste lines.
With the FIR now registered, the allegations and circumstances surrounding the Haldwani ritual are set to be examined as part of the police investigation.
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