Stating that the BJP was attempting to stifle Opposition voices, the Congress held a protest in Bengaluru on Wednesday against the FIR filed against Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi in Uttarakhand.

Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar said at the protest, “It is our duty to create awareness among the people the path in which the country is moving. We are living in a democracy, but pellets were fired during the youth protest and the Centre was unable to respond to questions. The Supreme Court had to intervene.”

Former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah termed the FIR as a “grave injustice” and an insult to the Constitution. “Mr. Gandhi had questioned purification ritual held at the stage from which Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge had addressed at Haldwani in Uttarakhand. There is no place for untouchability in the Constitution. What wrong has he done?” he asked.

Terming the FIR as a black spot in democracy, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president B.K. Hariprasad urged the Youth Congress and NSUI workers to stage protests in front of BJP offices and stage black flag protest to BJP leaders. “Constitution has to be protected. When we failed, the Gen Z stopped Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. If you don’t do it, the country’s future will not be secure,” he said.