Raipur: Three FIRs have been registered against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in different parts of Chhattisgarh, following his remarks during a recent visit to the United States that are claimed to have hurt the religious sentiments of the Sikh community.
According to police sources, two FIRs were registered on Thursday—one at the Civil Lines police station in Raipur and another at the Bilaspur Civil Lines police station in Bilaspur district. A third FIR was filed at the Kotwali police station in Durg district on Friday. The complaints have predominantly been lodged by leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). In these cases, Gandhi has been booked under sections 299 and 302 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which pertain to deliberate acts intended to insult religious beliefs and intentionally hurting someone’s religious feelings through words, sounds, gestures, or objects.
BJP spokesperson Amarjeet Singh Chhabra filed the complaint in Raipur, alleging that Gandhi’s remarks questioned whether Sikhs could wear a turban or a ‘kada’ and visit Gurdwaras in India. Chhabra asserted that Gandhi’s statement was misleading and hurtful to the Sikh community. He noted that Sikhs globally, and particularly in India, are not prohibited from wearing their religious attire, and even the Prime Minister wears a turban when visiting Gurdwaras.
Chhabra claimed that Gandhi’s comments could incite discrimination and animosity between different religious communities, further exacerbating social tensions.
The FIR in Durg was lodged by Jitendra Verma, the BJP’s district unit chief, and similar complaints have also been submitted in other police stations across Durg, Surguja, and other districts of the state.
Gandhi made the controversial remarks while addressing a gathering of Indian Americans in Herndon, Virginia, on September 9. His comments have sparked significant backlash from the BJP, which has been vocal in condemning his statements and calling for action.
As the situation develops, it remains to be seen how Gandhi and the Congress party will respond to these allegations, as well as the potential political ramifications within Chhattisgarh and beyond.