Karnataka Congress protests Rahul Gandhi FIR in Bengaluru; Shivakumar vows defiance
Synopsis
Karnataka’s ruling Congress took its protest to Freedom Park, Bengaluru, over the FIR against Rahul Gandhi in Uttarakhand — with CM Shivakumar declaring the party ‘unafraid of jail’ and a state minister openly asking whether Congress should target PM Modi in the same manner. The protest signals that Karnataka will be Congress’s frontline in its national battle against what it calls political persecution.
Key Takeaways
The KPCC staged a protest at Freedom Park, Bengaluru on 2 September against the FIR registered against Rahul Gandhi in Uttarakhand .
Hariprasad led the demonstration, joined by former CM Siddaramaiah , ministers, and legislators.
Shivakumar declared Congress ‘unafraid of jail’ and vowed to continue raising constitutional rights issues.
Shivakumar called the action against Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge ‘a great insult to the social fabric of the country’ and demanded an immediate apology.
Balakrishna warned that Congress may respond in kind if such actions continue against its leaders.
The Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) on Wednesday, 2 September staged a large-scale demonstration at Freedom Park, Bengaluru, condemning the FIR registered against Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi in Uttarakhand, which the party described as “malicious” and politically motivated. The protest drew senior state ministers, legislators, and party functionaries, signalling a coordinated Karnataka-wide pushback against the legal action.
Key Developments
The demonstration was led by KPCC President B.K. Hariprasad. Among those present were former Chief Minister and Congress Working Committee member Siddaramaiah, All India Congress Committee (AICC) Secretary Gopinath Palaniappan, KPCC Campaign Committee President Vinay Kumar Sorake, along with several state ministers and legislators.
What Chief Minister Shivakumar Said
Addressing the gathering, Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar declared that the Congress would not be cowed by threats or the prospect of imprisonment. “We are not afraid of jail. We are ready to face the threats. You cannot stop our voices from being raised. It is the duty of opposition parties to raise their voice for the fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution,” he said.
Shivakumar also invoked the party’s historical role, asserting: “This is not the British Raj. It was the Congress party that gave the country the Constitution, brought freedom and secured the right to speak. That is what our leaders are doing. There are hundreds of leaders ready to face all this. Mr. Kharge and Rahul Gandhi will face it.”
He further condemned the reported action against Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, calling it “a great insult to the social fabric of the country” and demanding an immediate withdrawal and a public apology — not just to Kharge, but to the nation.
Minister Balakrishna’s Pointed Warning
Karnataka Minister for Municipal Administration H.C. Balakrishna sharpened the rhetoric, questioning whether the Congress should respond in kind. “What they have done with Mallikarjun Kharge… should we repeat the same with Prime Minister Modi? If they keep doing such acts, we have to do the same,” he said — remarks that are likely to draw a sharp response from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the Centre.
Broader Context and What It Signals
The Bengaluru protest is part of a wider Congress offensive against what the party describes as the selective use of law enforcement against opposition leaders. Notably, this is not the first time the party has mobilised its Karnataka unit — one of its strongest state governments — to amplify a national political dispute. The FIR against Gandhi in Uttarakhand, a BJP-governed state, has added a federalism dimension to the controversy, with Congress alleging that state machinery is being weaponised against dissent. The party has said it will continue protests until the case is withdrawn.
Point of View
Suggesting either a coordinated provocation or a discipline problem the party will need to manage. More broadly, the pattern of opposition-led state governments hosting counter-protests against Centre-aligned FIRs is becoming a defining feature of India’s federal politics — and Karnataka, with its comfortable majority, is emerging as Congress’s loudest megaphone.
NationPress
2 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the Karnataka Congress stage a protest in Bengaluru?
The Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) protested at Freedom Park, Bengaluru on 2 September against an FIR registered against Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi in Uttarakhand, which the party described as ‘malicious’ and politically motivated. The party also condemned a separate action against Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge.
Who led the protest at Freedom Park?
KPCC President B.K. Hariprasad led the protest. It was also attended by former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, AICC Secretary Gopinath Palaniappan, KPCC Campaign Committee President Vinay Kumar Sorake, and several state ministers and legislators.
What did Karnataka CM D.K. Shivakumar say at the protest?
CM Shivakumar said Congress was ‘not afraid of jail’ and would continue to raise its voice for constitutional rights. He also condemned the action against Mallikarjun Kharge as ‘a great insult to the social fabric of the country’ and demanded an immediate withdrawal and public apology.
What did Minister H.C. Balakrishna say about PM Modi?
Karnataka Minister for Municipal Administration H.C. Balakrishna questioned whether Congress should respond in kind to the action taken against Kharge, asking: ‘Should we repeat the same with Prime Minister Modi?’ He warned that if such acts continued, the party would be compelled to respond similarly.
What is the FIR against Rahul Gandhi about?
The source describes the FIR as registered against Rahul Gandhi in Uttarakhand, with the Congress calling it ‘malicious.’ The specific charges in the FIR were not detailed in available reports at the time of this protest.
