The Mokokchung District Congress Committee (MKG DCC) has condemned the registration of an FIR in Haldwani, Uttarakhand, against Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, describing the action as an attempt to silence dissent and deflect attention from an alleged caste-based incident.

In a statement, the MKG DCC said the legal action came after Gandhi demanded accountability over a reported “purification ritual” held at Ramlila Ground in Haldwani following a public meeting addressed by AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge.

The Congress committee said demanding action against such practices was the responsibility of a leader committed to social justice and constitutional equality. It alleged that the incident was deeply offensive to Kharge and reflected regressive caste prejudices that had no place in a constitutional democracy.

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Instead of acting against those allegedly responsible for perpetuating caste discrimination, the state machinery had “bizarrely turned around” to register a case against Gandhi, the MKG DCC alleged.

Calling the FIR a misuse of law enforcement and an attempt by the ruling dispensation to suppress dissent, the committee said such tactics would neither silence Gandhi nor weaken the Congress party’s resolve to fight caste discrimination, social prejudice and political authoritarianism.

The MKG DCC demanded the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of the FIR against Gandhi.

It also appealed to citizens to stand firm in defence of the constitutional values of fraternity, dignity, equality and justice.