Rahul Gandhi Demands FIR Against 'Purification' at Kharge's Haldwani Rally, Cites SC/ST Act

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi order a First Information Report (FIR) against those involved in the "shuddikaran" or purification of the Ramlila ground in Haldwani, Uttarakhand, following a public meeting addressed by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, a Dalit leader.

Speaking at a press conference, Gandhi accused the BJP and RSS of promoting an ideology that contradicts constitutional values. He alleged that the purification ritual was performed after Kharge's August 8 rally, with no action taken under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act despite the incident occurring 20 days prior.

Gandhi emphasized that the Congress party had raised the issue during the Congress Working Committee meeting on August 19, stating that Kharge had expressed disappointment over some leaders not supporting him. The opposition leader further highlighted broader issues of caste-based discrimination, including incidents where Dalit students are forced to clean toilets in schools or face restrictions on accessing public resources.

Referring to a video where the BJP’s Uttarakhand chief justified the purification act, Gandhi criticized Prime Minister Modi’s silence on the matter. He argued that such practices violate constitutional provisions and accused the BJP and RSS of perpetuating untouchability under the guise of cultural traditions.

The Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, enacted in 1995 and amended to impose stricter penalties, was cited by Gandhi as the legal recourse for addressing such incidents. He stressed that Kharge, as the Congress president, deserves justice and that the failure to act sets a dangerous precedent for Dalit communities across India.

Gandhi concluded by asserting that the issue extends beyond Kharge, representing a systemic problem faced by Dalits nationwide. He called for immediate action to uphold constitutional guarantees and protect marginalized communities from such atrocities.

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