KPCC chief Hariprasad slams FIR against Rahul Gandhi, calls it 'grave injustice'
Synopsis
The Uttarakhand Police FIR against Rahul Gandhi — filed after he questioned an alleged purification ritual at a venue where Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge had spoken — has triggered a formal protest in Bengaluru, with KPCC president B.K. Hariprasad calling it a constitutional affront and demanding state-wide demonstrations against the BJP.
Key Takeaways
Hariprasad condemned the Uttarakhand Police FIR against Rahul Gandhi at a protest in Freedom Park, Bengaluru on 2 September .
The FIR reportedly relates to Rahul Gandhi questioning a 'purification' ritual at a venue where Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge had delivered a speech.
Hariprasad argued the purification ritual itself amounts to untouchability , which is prohibited under the Constitution of India .
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was accused of politically targeting Rahul Gandhi to silence him as Leader of Opposition.
Hariprasad called for state-wide protests across Karnataka and declared the BJP 'unfit to remain in power.'
Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President B.K. Hariprasad on Wednesday, 2 September strongly condemned the First Information Report (FIR) registered by Uttarakhand Police against Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, describing it as a 'grave injustice' and alleging the move was politically motivated. Hariprasad made the remarks at a protest organised at Freedom Park in Bengaluru.
What the FIR Is About
The FIR against Rahul Gandhi stems from his questioning of an alleged 'purification' ritual reportedly conducted at a venue in Uttarakhand where Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge had delivered a speech. According to Hariprasad, Rahul Gandhi had done nothing more than raise objections to this practice, and that registering a case against him for doing so was unjustifiable.
'Rahul Gandhi has not committed any mistake, yet a case has been registered against him. This is a grave injustice,' Hariprasad said at the protest. The FIR reportedly invokes provisions related to atrocities against Dalits — a charge Hariprasad called 'extremely unfortunate' given the circumstances.
Congress Frames It as a Constitutional Issue
Hariprasad argued that the purification of a venue following a speech by Kharge — a senior Dalit leader — amounted to an act of untouchability, which is prohibited under the Constitution of India. He contended that those performing such rituals, not those questioning them, should face legal scrutiny.
'Purifying a place where a speech was delivered is against the Constitution. The Constitution does not permit untouchability. Therefore, this amounts to an affront to the Constitution,' he said. Hariprasad added that the incident was an insult not only to Kharge but also to Rahul Gandhi, who holds the constitutional position of Leader of Opposition.
BJP Accused of Targeting the Opposition
Hariprasad alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was deliberately attempting to silence Rahul Gandhi. 'It appears that the BJP has decided that Rahul Gandhi's voice must be silenced by any means,' he said, pointing to what he described as a pattern of legal cases being filed against the Congress leader following his criticism of the Union government in Parliament.
He also recalled that Rahul Gandhi's Lok Sabha membership had previously been cancelled in connection with a separate case, and that he subsequently obtained relief from the court. Hariprasad characterised the BJP's actions as being contrary to constitutional values, asserting that the party had 'no faith in the Constitution.'
Call for State-Wide Protests
Concluding his address at Freedom Park, Hariprasad called for protests across Karnataka against the FIR. He declared the BJP 'unfit to remain in power' and said the Congress would stand firmly beside Rahul Gandhi and strengthen his fight. The protest in Bengaluru is expected to serve as a template for similar demonstrations in other districts of the state in the coming days.
Point of View
That is the act that invites scrutiny under anti-untouchability provisions, not the questioning of it. Mainstream coverage has focused on the Congress protest, but the more significant question — whether Uttarakhand Police acted on its own initiative or under political direction — remains unexamined. With Rahul Gandhi's earlier disqualification from Parliament still fresh in public memory, each fresh FIR reinforces a narrative of institutional pressure that the Congress is clearly eager to amplify ahead of state elections.
NationPress
2 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was an FIR registered against Rahul Gandhi in Uttarakhand?
The FIR was reportedly registered by Uttarakhand Police after Rahul Gandhi questioned an alleged purification ritual conducted at a venue in Uttarakhand where Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge had delivered a speech. The case reportedly invokes provisions related to atrocities against Dalits, though the Congress has strongly contested the basis for the FIR.
What did KPCC chief B.K. Hariprasad say about the FIR?
Hariprasad called the FIR a 'grave injustice' and alleged it was politically motivated by the BJP to silence Rahul Gandhi. Speaking at a protest at Freedom Park in Bengaluru on 2 September, he argued that questioning a purification ritual — which he said amounted to untouchability — could not legally constitute an offence.
What is the Congress's constitutional argument against the FIR?
The Congress argues that performing a purification ritual after a Dalit leader's speech constitutes untouchability, which is expressly prohibited by the Constitution of India. Hariprasad contended that those conducting the ritual, not Rahul Gandhi for questioning it, should face action under the law.
Has Rahul Gandhi faced legal cases before?
Yes. Hariprasad recalled that Rahul Gandhi's Lok Sabha membership was previously cancelled in connection with a separate case, and that he subsequently obtained relief from the court. The KPCC chief alleged a pattern of cases being filed against Gandhi following his criticism of the Union government.
What action has the Congress announced in response to the FIR?
KPCC President B.K. Hariprasad has called for state-wide protests across Karnataka against the FIR. The Bengaluru demonstration at Freedom Park on 2 September is expected to serve as a model for similar protests in other districts of the state.
