An FIR was registered against Congress MP Rahul Gandhi in Odisha for allegedly making anti-India remarks. The FIR was registered at the Jharsuguda town police station on the complaint of some Hindu organisations and the BJP. An investigation is being carried out by the police in the case.
The FIR, filed by a person named Ram Hari Pujari, states that Gandhi’s remarks threatened the unity and integrity of the nation. It further states that he incited rebellion against the country by declaring war against the Indian state. Gandhi is also accused in the FIR of misusing his freedom of speech by making the statement. The statement was made by Rahul Gandhi on 15th January 2025 during the inauguration of the new Congress headquarters at Kotla Road, Delhi.
“Our ideology, like the RSS ideology, is thousands of years old and it has been fighting the RSS ideology for thousands of years. Do not think that we are fighting a fair fight. There is no fairness in this. If you believe we are fighting a political organisation, called the BJP or the RSS, you have not understood what is going on. The BJP and the RSS have captured every single institution of our country. We are now fighting, the BJP, the RSS and the Indian state itself, ” Gandhi said.
On receiving the complaint against Gandhi, IG range Sambalpur Himanshu Lal ordered the filing of the FIR. Speaking to OpIndia, IG Lal said, “Activists of some Hindu organisations including Bajrang Dal, the RSS and the BJP had complained about Rahul Gandh’s statement. On this complaint, the police found the allegations true in the prima facie investigation. I have ordered a FIR in this regard.”
“A case has been registered under relevant sections of the BNS in the matter, we are investigating it in detail. As per the rules, a notice will also be sent to Rahul Gandhi in this regard and further action will be taken. His side will also be taken, ” he added.
OpIndia spoke to P Jharunguda Smit Parmar in this matter, who confirmed that an FIR has been registered. He has said that a case has been registered against Rahul Gandhi under sections 152 and 197 (1) (D) of the BNS. OpIndia has a copy of the FIR. Section 152 criminalises attempts to excite, secession or armed rebellion or subversive activities, or encourages feelings of separatist activities or endangers the unity, sovereignty and integrity of India. Section 197(1)(D) deals with the acts of making or publishing false or misleading information that can endanger India’s sovereignty, unity, integrity or security.