Rahul Gandhi Demands FIR Under SC/ST Act After Kharge Rally "Purification" in Haldwani

In a strong condemnation, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi order an FIR under the Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act against those who performed a "shuddhikaran" (purification) ceremony at the venue of a rally addressed by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge in Haldwani, Uttarakhand. The incident occurred two days after Kharge's rally on August 8.

Members of the Shri Ram Sena reportedly conducted a 'havan' at the venue on August 10, an act which Gandhi has unequivocally labeled as a reflection of "untouchability" and a "crime according to the Constitution." He highlighted that 20 days have passed since the incident, yet no case has been filed under the stringent SC/ST Act. Gandhi directly challenged PM Modi's silence on the matter, stating, "It is a reflection of PM's ideology that he is not saying anything." He further criticized the BJP's Uttarakhand chief for reportedly supporting the 'shuddhikaran' act, calling it an "illegal act." This contentious event has also been raised by Mallikarjun Kharge himself at a Congress Working Committee meeting, where he expressed disappointment that some party leaders hadn't taken up the issue more forcefully.

Expanding on the broader issue of caste-based discrimination, Rahul Gandhi pointed out various atrocities faced by Dalits across India.

He cited instances where Dalit students are forced to clean toilets, denied access to common village wells or tea shops, and even made to wear helmets during wedding processions to protect them from stone pelting.

He connected the Haldwani incident to a pattern, recalling a similar "shuddhikaran" that allegedly followed Union Minister Jitin Ram Majhi's visit to a temple. "This is done by the BJP and RSS and this is a crime according to the Constitution. Shuddhikaran is another name for untouchability.

Which is illegal but BJP practises it,

Gandhi asserted. The Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, which came into force in 1995 and has since been amended for stricter punishment, is designed to prevent atrocities and violence against vulnerable sections of society. Gandhi emphasized the need for justice for Kharge, stating,

He is our president and he must get justice today or tomorrow.

Kharge ji not getting justice is not going to be a possibility.

An FIR has to be filed."

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