NEW DELHI: Congress hit the streets nationwide in protest Monday, with the party dubbing the FIR against Rahul Gandhi for demanding action for “purification” of Haldwani rally venue of party chief Mallikarjun Kharge as reflective of BJP’s “abhorrently casteist behaviour”.AICC general secretary KC Venugopal said, “They are willing to put the entire might of the state to attack those who speak against Dalit atrocities.” He added, “What the BJP has done is to attack the values of social justice enshrined in the Constitution, and the Congress will fight against this attack tooth and nail. We will not rest until the true culprits of the insult to Kharge are punished, and this frivolous FIR against Rahul is thrown in the dustbin.”As a reaction from Rahul Gandhi, Congress released a video with the title “cases are my medals” and with footage of the leader of opposition saying, “There are 36 cases against me. I am not afraid of Narendra Modi. But the truth is if anyone is scared, it is Modi.” Sachin Pilot asked if seeking justice is a crime, adding, “Voice for justice cannot be suppressed under the weight of FIRs. The anti-dalit face of BJP stands exposed.”Congress spokesman Jairam Ramesh mocked that Rahul held a press conference to highlight the injustice and hate faced by Dalits, and “BJP-RSS took less than 24 hours to prove it correct”. He added, “This mindset faces the hurdle of Ambedkar’s Constitution. That is why they are disturbed by the Constitution and want to change it.”
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Venugopal said BJP has shown to the entire world that they are the biggest perpetrators of social injustice.To protest the FIR against Rahul and “caste atrocity” against Kharge, Congress held protests at district level across states. A directive from AICC general secretary Venugopal to state units said, “Our fight should continue against the ones who attack the values of social justice. Active and mandatory participation must be ensured across all levels – PCC office-bearers, District leadership, CLP leaders MLA/MLC, MPs, senior leaders, frontal organisations… maximum mobilization and media dissemination must be undertaken to send an unyielding message – Congress will not be intimidated by state-sponsored witch-hunts and will fight relentlessly for social justice.”
