PM Modi must order filing of FIR, we demand justice: Rahul Gandhi on Kharge’s rally venue ‘purification’ in Uttarakhand - The Hindu

**New Delhi –** On Thursday, Congress leader **Rahul Gandhi** demanded that Prime Minister **Narendra Modi** issue an order for the filing of a First Information Report (FIR) after a “purification” ritual was performed at a venue slated for a rally of Congress president **Mallikarjun Kharge** in Uttarakhand. Gandhi, speaking at a press conference in New Delhi, accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its ideological parent, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), of “untouchability” and discrimination, saying that the act of “suddhikaran” – a term he equated with the historic practice of untouchability – was a direct affront to the secular and inclusive values enshrined in the Indian Constitution. He urged the central government to intervene, asserting that any attempt to “purify” a public space on the basis of political affiliation constitutes a criminal offense under the Indian Penal Code.

The incident in question took place in the hill district of **Rudraprayag**, where local BJP cadres reportedly conducted a ceremonial cleansing of the ground intended for Kharge’s campaign rally, invoking religious symbolism to “sanitize” the area. **Uttarakhand BJP chief Bhupesh Kumar** defended the ritual, describing it as a “cultural practice” that had no intent to discriminate, and said it was carried out with the consent of the venue’s owners. He denied any violation of law, adding that the party would cooperate fully with any investigation. The state police, however, have not yet registered an FIR, prompting Gandhi’s call for direct action from the prime minister’s office.

Legal experts note that filing an FIR for “sudden” or “purification” rituals is not straightforward, as the act does not automatically meet the threshold of a cognizable offence unless it can be linked to harassment, intimidation, or incitement of communal hatred. The Ministry of Home Affairs declined to comment on the specifics of the Uttarakhand episode, while the Congress party has announced that it will pursue all legal avenues to ensure accountability. The controversy underscores the growing tension between the ruling party and the opposition ahead of the upcoming state assembly elections, with both sides framing the episode as emblematic of broader ideological battles over secularism and cultural identity in India.