DIMAPUR: Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) on Tuesday organised a protest march in Kohima against the FIR registered against Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, terming the action politically motivated and an attempt to intimidate the Opposition.
Addressing the gathering, NPCC president and Nagaland’s lone Lok Sabha member S. Supongmeren Jamir strongly condemned the FIR, which was filed following complaints by BJP workers. He alleged that the action was aimed at silencing the voice of the Opposition.
Supongmeren said the Congress would not be intimidated and would continue to stand for democracy, justice and the constitutional right to question those in power. He expressed solidarity with Gandhi and All India Congress Committee (AICC)president Mallikarjun Kharge, and said attempts to suppress democratic dissent through legal or political pressure would be opposed through democratic means.
The protest also demanded appropriate legal action against those responsible for the Haldwani, Uttarakhand, incident, in line with an AICC directive.
As part of the statewide programme, protest marches were also organised by District Congress Committees in Dimapur, Tuensang and Kiphire, with party leaders and workers participating in solidarity with Gandhi.
NPCC reiterated that the Congress would continue to defend democratic values, constitutional rights and the Opposition’s freedom to raise issues concerning the people without fear or intimidation.
MDCC condemns FIR against Rahul Gandhi: Mokokchung District Congress Committee (MDCC) has condemned the registration of an FIR in Haldwani, Uttarakhand, against Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, terming it a retaliatory action aimed at silencing dissent.
MDCC through its media cell said the FIR followed Gandhi’s demand for strict legal action over what it described as an offensive “purification ritual” conducted at Ramlila Ground in Haldwani after a public meeting addressed by AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge.
Mokokchung District Congress Committee said demanding accountability for such acts, which it alleged insulted Kharge’s dignity and violated constitutional safeguards against untouchability, was the responsibility of a leader of the Opposition.
It alleged that instead of acting against those responsible for perpetuating caste-based discrimination, the state machinery had targeted Gandhi for raising the issue.
The committee termed the action a misuse of law enforcement intended to suppress dissent and deflect attention from what it described as an anti-Dalit mindset.
Mokokchung District Congress Committee said such tactics would neither silence Gandhi nor weaken the Congress’ resolve to oppose caste discrimination, prejudice and political authoritarianism.
It demanded the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of the FIR against Gandhi and urged citizens to defend the constitutional values of fraternity, dignity and justice.
