The Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) on Tuesday organised a protest march in Kohima against the FIR registered against Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi.
The protest was held in compliance with a directive from the All India Congress Committee (AICC), with NPCC president and Lok Sabha MP S. Supongmeren Jamir leading the protest in Kohima.
Addressing the gathering, Jamir condemned the FIR, which, according to the NPCC, was registered following complaints by BJP workers. He termed the action politically motivated and alleged that it was an attempt to intimidate and silence the voice of the Opposition.
Jamir said the Congress would not be intimidated and would continue to stand for democracy, justice and the constitutional right of the Opposition to question those in power.
He also expressed solidarity with Rahul Gandhi and AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge, stating that attempts to suppress democratic dissent through legal and political pressure would be opposed democratically.
The protest also demanded appropriate legal action against those responsible for the incident in Haldwani, Uttarakhand, as highlighted in the AICC directive.
The NPCC said protest marches were also organised by District Congress Committees across Nagaland as part of the statewide programme, including in Dimapur, Tuensang and Kiphire, with party leaders and workers participating.
Meanwhile, the Mokokchung District Congress Committee (MDCC) separately condemned the FIR against Gandhi and demanded its immediate withdrawal.
The MDCC alleged that the FIR was retaliatory and linked it to Gandhi’s demand for legal accountability over what it described as a “purification ritual” conducted at the Ramlila Ground in Haldwani following a public meeting addressed by AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge.
The Mokokchung DCC described the FIR as an attempt to silence dissent and accused the ruling dispensation of failing to act against those responsible for the Haldwani incident.
It called for the withdrawal of the FIR and urged citizens to uphold the constitutional values of fraternity, dignity and justice.
The NPCC said the Congress would continue to defend democratic values, constitutional rights and the freedom of the Opposition to raise issues concerning the people.
