Congress Rallies Behind Rahul Gandhi as Sukhu Slams FIR in Uttarakhand
A political storm erupted in Himachal Pradesh on Monday as Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu accused the BJP of targeting Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi by registering an FIR against him in Uttarakhand. Addressing a large protest organised by the Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC), Sukhu alleged that the move reflected the ruling party’s unease over Rahul Gandhi’s growing political influence.
The protest, held near the Deputy Commissioner’s office, saw the participation of hundreds of Congress leaders and workers. Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri, Cabinet ministers, MLAs and HPCC president Vinay Kumar joined the demonstration, raising slogans against the BJP-led central government.
Speaking to the gathering, Sukhu referred to the recent controversy in Haldwani, where Congress leaders alleged that a purification ceremony was conducted after AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge attended an event. According to the Chief Minister, Rahul Gandhi had publicly questioned the incident and demanded action against those responsible. However, instead of acting on that demand, an FIR was registered against Rahul Gandhi.
Sukhu described the situation as deeply troubling, particularly because Kharge, who comes from the Dalit community, was allegedly subjected to an act that Congress leaders viewed as disrespectful.
“On the one hand, our national president was insulted, and on the other, Rahul Gandhi is facing an FIR for speaking out against it,” Sukhu said, questioning why no action had been taken against those involved in the purification ceremony.
The Chief Minister further alleged that the episode reflected what he called the BJP’s “authoritarian approach” to handling political dissent. He claimed that attempts were being made to silence opposition voices and divert attention from issues raised by Congress leaders.
The protest also served as a platform for Congress leaders to criticise the BJP’s broader political agenda. Sukhu accused the party of trying to create divisions in society along religious and caste lines and expressed concern over what he described as the increasing politicisation of issues related to national symbols and public discourse.
The demonstration highlighted the Congress party’s decision to stand firmly behind Rahul Gandhi over the controversy. As political tensions continue to grow, the FIR and the events surrounding it are likely to remain at the centre of a wider debate between the Congress and the BJP in the coming days.
