Congress MPs Call for FIR After ‘Purification’ Controversy at Haldwani Rally

On Tuesday, a handful of senior Congress parliamentarians converged on the Parliament Street police station in Delhi, insisting that the authorities lodge a First Information Report (FIR) over a so‑called ‘purification’ ritual that took place at Haldwani’s Ramlila Maidan after Mallikarjun Kharge’s rally.

Among those who arrived were Mallu Ravi, Vamsi Krishna Gaddam and a contingent of SC/ST‑reserved seat MPs. Their grievance is clear: they view the ceremony as a “categorical attack against the Dalit community,” a claim they have linked to broader ideological currents they associate with the BJP.

Speaking to ANI, Gaddam said, “If you look at the BJP’s ideologies, the Manusmriti they glorify, it runs counter to what Dr Ambedkar fought for. This is not an isolated incident; it’s part of a pattern of oppression against marginalized groups.” He added that the Congress would seek an audience with the President of India to highlight what he described as “Modi’s Manusmriti‑style policies.”

The MPs also hinted at a larger demonstration. “All SC/ST MPs will sit together at Jantar Mantar, demanding that the culprits be arrested,” said Mallu Ravi, after noting that a request for a meeting with the President had gone unanswered.

Rajendra Pal Gautam, the party’s in‑charge for Uttar Pradesh, reminded the police of their legal duty. “When a cognisable offence is reported, even over a phone call, the law obliges the police to register an FIR. So far, none has been filed,” he complained.

Varsha Eknath Gaikwad, another Congress MP, emphasized that the group’s intention was simply to submit a complaint. “We are asking for a Zero FIR – a formal record of the grievance. What we are seeing feels like a dictatorship of silence,” she remarked.

In parallel, the Nainital police did register an FIR at Haldwani Kotwali, based on a complaint filed by Congress worker Anju. The case cites Sections 196 and 299 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Section 3(1)(R) of the SC/ST Act. According to SSP Manjunath TC, the police received 80 complaints across Uttarakhand, 19 of which came from Nainital district alone. The investigation is now under SP Crime Jagdish Chandra.

The state government, however, has pushed back. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami told reporters that no caste‑based purification took place. “The ‘Shri Ram Sena’ is an independent body; none of its statements or videos target any community,” he said, adding that the government would act swiftly if any evidence emerged.

Meanwhile, Congress activists have already staged a march from the Parade Ground to the Chief Minister’s residence, demanding immediate action against those they say orchestrated the ritual. The party has signaled that the protest at Jantar Mantar will be sizable, aiming to put pressure on both the state and central authorities.

As the political tug‑of‑war continues, the question that looms is whether the legal machinery will respond. For the Congress MPs, filing the FIR is more than a procedural step; it is a statement that Dalit rights cannot be sidelined in the current climate.