Pioneer News Service
Ranchi
The Jharkhand Pradesh Congress Committee on Monday staged a massive protest in Ranchi against the FIR registered against Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi in Uttarakhand, calling it a “politically motivated and malicious” attempt to suppress the democratic voice of the Opposition.
Led by state Congress president Keshav Mahto Kamlesh, a large procession was taken out from the Congress Bhavan to Albert Ekka Chowk, where party workers raised slogans against the BJP-led Central government and later burnt its effigy.
Addressing the gathering, Kamlesh alleged that the FIR against Rahul Gandhi reflected the BJP’s “political frustration” and was aimed at silencing his voice on issues concerning the poor, Dalits, tribals, backward classes and other marginalised sections.
“The BJP should not assume that an FIR or government pressure can silence Rahul Gandhi. Farmers, youth, students and crores of Congress workers stand with him,” Kamlesh said.
He also demanded that FIRs be registered against BJP workers if they were found involved in acts against social harmony or constitutional values. “There cannot be two sets of laws. The law is equal for everyone,” he said.
Jharkhand Congress in-charge Dr Sirivella Prasad accused the BJP government of using police, investigative agencies and legal cases to intimidate the Opposition.
Health Minister Irfan Ansari said the protest was a message that the Congress would not tolerate any attempt to undermine the Constitution and democracy.
MP Sukhdeo Bhagat, Congress Legislature Party deputy leader Rajesh Kachhap and other senior leaders also addressed the gathering, asserting that the party’s agitation would continue as long as they believed democratic and constitutional values were under threat.
