ITANAGAR, SEP 1:
The Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) has strongly condemned the registration of an FIR against Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi over his remarks questioning an alleged caste-based “purification” ritual reportedly conducted by BJP-RSS workers at Haldwani in Uttarakhand.
In a statement, the APCC said the alleged ritual was reportedly carried out at a venue where Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge had addressed a political meeting and described the incident as a matter concerning caste discrimination, untouchability and social dignity.
The APCC questioned why an FIR was registered against Rahul Gandhi for raising the issue while those allegedly involved in the “purification” ritual had not faced similar action. It demanded a fair, impartial and time-bound investigation into the incident and appropriate legal action against anyone found responsible, irrespective of political affiliation or position.
The party also accused the BJP government in Uttarakhand of using police and state machinery against the Opposition and said an FIR against the Leader of Opposition should not be used to intimidate or silence voices advocating social justice.
The APCC invoked the constitutional guarantees of equality before law, dignity, liberty and protection against discrimination, asserting that no political party, government or organisation could place itself above these principles.
The party further alleged that the BJP and RSS could not selectively invoke the Constitution while remaining silent over allegations of caste-based discrimination involving their workers. It said the Congress would continue to oppose casteism, discrimination, injustice and what it described as political vendetta.
The APCC announced that it would organise a protest march on September 2 at 2 pm from Akhasdeep Market to Indira Gandhi Park in Itanagar in solidarity with Rahul Gandhi and against what it termed a politically motivated FIR.
Describing the proposed protest as a fight for constitutional dignity, against caste discrimination and to protect democracy and the Constitution, the APCC said it would neither be intimidated nor silenced.
