Shillong, September 2: The Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) has strongly condemned the registration of an FIR against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, alleging that the case is an attempt to intimidate and silence those speaking out against caste-based discrimination.
Addressing the media, MPCC General Secretary Manuel Badwar alleged that the BJP’s political ideology and style of functioning were rooted in caste and class divisions.
Referring to a recent incident in Uttarakhand, Badwar said a Congress meeting was held at a public ground in Haldwani during the first week of August. He alleged that two days later, BJP members conducted a “purification puja” at the same venue.
According to Badwar, the ceremony sent a discriminatory message that the premises needed to be purified after being used by members of a supposedly lower caste or class.
“This is unconstitutional and completely unacceptable. Nobody has the right to treat another person as inferior because of caste or community,” Badwar said.
He said Rahul Gandhi had raised his voice against the alleged discriminatory act and demanded that Haldwani Police register an FIR against those responsible for organising the purification ceremony.
Badwar alleged that the matter was subsequently turned against Gandhi, with an FIR accusing the Congress leader of inciting tension and insulting the Scheduled Caste community.
“The FIR is nothing but a misuse of the law. It is an effort to intimidate and silence a person who spoke against an injustice,” he said.
The MPCC General Secretary further alleged that the BJP and RSS were guided by an ideology that sought to perpetuate the caste system and prevent members of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities from progressing and occupying positions of authority.
He also accused the BJP-led government of weakening the country’s education system, arguing that progressive education empowers historically marginalised communities and enables them to participate equally in governance and public life.
Badwar asserted that the Congress would continue to oppose casteism and attempts to divide society along caste and class lines.
“The Congress will always stand against caste discrimination. We will continue raising our voice and informing the people that such practices should have no place either in Meghalaya or anywhere else in the country,” he said.
He added that the party would work towards strengthening laws and safeguards against caste-based discrimination if it returned to power.
