Congress steps up attack on BJP after FIR against Rahul Gandhi over ‘purification’ row
The Congress party is protesting against the BJP following an FIR filed against Rahul Gandhi regarding his comments on a 'purification' ceremony. The ceremony took place at a venue where Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge had previously held a rally, leading to accusations of caste-based discrimination.
Why it matters
This highlights ongoing political tensions in India regarding caste politics and the use of legal mechanisms to address political speech.
After the Uttarakhand Police registered a case against Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi over his remarks on the ‘purification’ ceremony which ‘insulted’ Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, the party on Sunday (August 30, 2026) said it “exposed BJP’s casteist mindset”.
Congress general secretary (organisation) K.C. Venugopal announced that party workers across the country would take to the streets on Monday (August 31) evening to demand “prosecution of the BJP leaders who insulted Kharge ji and to defend our Constitution against the BJP’s assault on its values of social justice”.
The party described the first information report (FIR) against Mr. Gandhi, registered on Sunday, as an attempt to divert attention from the allegations of caste discrimination and suppress the voices demanding action against those involved in the purported “ shuddhikaran ” (purification) ceremony at the venue of Mr. Kharge’s public meeting in Haldwani in Uttarakhand.
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