Guwahati: An FIR has been registered against Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi at Haldwani Kotwali police station in Uttarakhand’s Nainital district over his alleged remarks about a “purification ritual” conducted at the local Ramlila Ground.
Haldwani Superintendent of Police (City) Manoj Kumar Katyal confirmed that the case was registered following a complaint by 26-year-old Amit Kumar, a resident of Jawahar Nagar Colony and an office-bearer of the Shri Ram Sena Dharmarth Seva Nyas.
According to police, the FIR invokes provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, along with Sections 196 and 299 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. Police said an investigation into the matter is underway.
Kumar, who identified himself as a member of the Valmiki community, alleged that Gandhi’s remarks during a press conference on Saturday portrayed those involved in the ritual as practising “untouchability” and being “anti-Dalit”.
The complainant said the remarks hurt the sentiments of members of the Scheduled Caste community. He also claimed that the August 11 event at the Ramlila Ground had no connection with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s caste.
The Shri Ram Sena Dharmarth Seva Nyas was among those involved in the “purification” and cleanliness drive held at the ground after Kharge addressed a Congress rally there earlier this month.
The FIR came a day after Gandhi demanded that a case be registered under the SC/ST Act against those who conducted the ritual. Gandhi had criticised the incident and sought action from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Police said the allegations made in the complaint would be examined as part of the investigation.