The relay sit-in organized by the Punjab Congress SC Department at the Punjab Congress Bhawan—held in protest against the alleged ‘purification’ ritual performed at Ramlila Maidan following Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge’s rally in Haldwani, Uttarakhand, and the FIR registered against Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi—concluded on Wednesday.
The Congress decided to end the eight-day-long protest after the Uttarakhand Police registered a case at the Haldwani Kotwali police station regarding the alleged ‘purification’ incident under Sections 196 and 299 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 3(1)(r) of the SC/ST Act. No compromise on the Constitution and Dalit rights.
Speaking at the gathering held to mark the conclusion of the sit-in, Congress National Coordinator Sudhir Chaudhary, Co-in-charge Mani Ram, and State President Gurpreet Singh Lucky Pakkho stated that the eight-day agitation has made it clear that the Congress will not compromise on issues concerning the Constitution of Babasaheb Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Dalit dignity, and social justice.
Congress leaders alleged that the party had to wage a long struggle to secure action regarding the insult to the Congress National President in BJP-ruled Uttarakhand, whereas a case was immediately registered against Rahul Gandhi for raising his voice in support of Dalits and weaker sections.
Renewed agitation if demands are not met
The leaders stated that while the sit-in has been called off for now following the registration of the FIR, the movement itself is not over. If the accused are not arrested soon and the politically motivated case against Rahul Gandhi is not quashed, the Congress will take to the streets again. The leaders warned that, if necessary, the agitation would be expanded to every block and district in Punjab. A large number of Congress leaders and workers—including Working President Yamini Gomar, Bani Khaira, Mohan Singh Phaliyanwala, Dr. Jeevanjot Kaur Bhatti, Nahar Singh Ferozepur, Ashwani Kumar Jalandhar, Darshan Singh Shutrana, Harvinder Singh Gurdaspur, Principal Sukkhan Singh, Mohali District President Ranjit Singh, Lakhwinder Singh, and Ajmer Singh—were present at the conclusion of the protest.
