Srikakulam District Congress Committee president Sanapala Annaji Rao and other Congress leaders staged a protest in Srikakulam after a Uttarakhand police registered a case registered against Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi over his remarks on a “purification” ritual conducted at Haldwani’s Ramlila ground, following a Scheduled Caste complainant alleging that the comments hurt his sentiments.

With the call given by the AICC high command, the party took out a rally and raised slogans against the NDA government.

Mr. Rao said the NDA government was encouraging “false complaints” and cases against Mr. Gandhi as he had opposed ‘anti people’ policies.

“Several RSS and BJP activists purified the ground as Kharge belonged to scheduled caste community. It is nothing but untouchability. That is why Rahul Gandhi demanded FIR on those persons. But strangely, Uttarakhand police filed case against him after taking a complaint from local leader Amit Kumar with the behest of BJP leaders. Mr. Rahul always wants unity among the people and never encourages social tensions as alleged in the FIR,” Mr. Rao said.