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Politics
FIR against Rahul Gandhi in Haldwani triggers BJP‑Congress political clash
✍️ TOI India
🗓 01 Sep 2026, 06:50 AM
👁 8
An FIR was lodged against Rahul Gandhi in Haldwani under the SC/ST Act for allegedly giving a caste angle to cleaning work at a rally. The Congress termed the move casteist, while the BJP said Rahul raised the issue late after a threat from Mallikarjun Kharge.
Police in Haldwani registered an FIR against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi under several provisions of the Indian Penal Code and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The complaint alleges that during a rally, Gandhi gave a caste‑based interpretation to cleaning work being carried out.
The Congress party condemned the FIR, describing it as a casteist move aimed at targeting Rahul Gandhi. Party spokespersons said the action was politically motivated and lacked legal basis.
In response, the BJP accused Rahul of raising the issue only after a threat from Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. BJP leaders said the timing of his comments showed opportunism rather than genuine concern.
The Uttarakhand chief minister said that people in the state are unaware of Mallikarjun Kharge’s caste, rejecting the notion that caste was a factor in the dispute.
The complainant, whose identity has not been disclosed, claimed that Gandhi’s remarks turned a routine cleaning activity into a caste‑based issue, prompting the legal action.
The Congress party condemned the FIR, describing it as a casteist move aimed at targeting Rahul Gandhi. Party spokespersons said the action was politically motivated and lacked legal basis.
In response, the BJP accused Rahul of raising the issue only after a threat from Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. BJP leaders said the timing of his comments showed opportunism rather than genuine concern.
The Uttarakhand chief minister said that people in the state are unaware of Mallikarjun Kharge’s caste, rejecting the notion that caste was a factor in the dispute.
The complainant, whose identity has not been disclosed, claimed that Gandhi’s remarks turned a routine cleaning activity into a caste‑based issue, prompting the legal action.