New Delhi [India], August 31 (ANI): Congress general secretary KC Venugopal on Monday criticised the BJP over the FIR registered against Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi in connection with the Haldwani 'purification' ritual row, alleging that the action was aimed at targeting those who speak against atrocities on Dalits.

In a post shared on X, Venugopal said, 'The day after LOP Sh. Rahul Gandhi ji's bold Press Conference demanding that BJP workers be prosecuted for the 'purification' done after Kharge ji's rally, the Uttarakhand Police has filed an FIR against Rahul ji himself!'

'This is nothing but the pot calling the kettle black,' he added.

Accusing the BJP of defending the alleged ritual, Venugopal said, 'What is worse, the BJP has actually jumped in to defend this abhorrently casteist behaviour - showing to the entire world that they are the biggest perpetrators of social injustice today.'

He further alleged that the government was using state power against those raising concerns over Dalit issues.

'They are willing to put the entire might of the state to attack those who speak against Dalit atrocities,' Venugopal said.

Calling the FIR an attack on constitutional values, the Congress leader said, 'What the BJP has done is to attack the values of social justice enshrined in the Constitution, and the Congress will fight against this attack tooth and nail.'

'We will not rest until the true culprits of the insult to Kharge ji are punished, and this frivolous FIR against Rahul ji is thrown in the dustbin,' he added.

Venugopal also announced that Congress workers would hold protests across the country over the issue.

'This evening, Congress workers across the country will be on the streets demanding 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,' he said.

https://x.com/kcvenugopalmp/status/2094313810450620426

His remarks came after Haldwani City Kotwali Police registered an FIR against Rahul Gandhi over his statements regarding the 'shuddhikaran yajna' (purification ritual) conducted at the venue where Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge addressed a rally on August 8.

The FIR was registered on August 30 on a complaint by Amit Kumar, a member of the Valmiki community, who alleged that Rahul Gandhi's remarks hurt the sentiments of the Scheduled Caste community. Police invoked provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, including Sections 3(1)(r) and 3(1)(u), along with Section 196 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.

On Saturday, Rahul Gandhi had described the purification ritual as 'another name for untouchability' and demanded action against those involved, alleging that the act violated constitutional values.

The controversy began after a Congress rally at Ramlila Ground in Haldwani on August 8, ahead of the 2027 Uttarakhand Assembly elections. Members of a right-wing group later conducted a 'shuddhikaran' ritual at the venue, triggering criticism from Congress leaders.

Kharge had raised the matter in the Rajya Sabha, alleging that the ritual was linked to his identity as a Dalit leader and questioning whether such practices were acceptable in a democracy.

Meanwhile, BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi rejected the allegations, saying there was 'no caste angle' in the incident and accused Congress of trying to create divisions in Hindu society. (ANI)