The Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) staged a protest in Guwahati today against the “discriminatory and condemnable” act of the BJP, which allegedly performed a so-called “purification” with Gangajal at a rally venue in Haldwani, Uttarakhand, following a public meeting attended by All India Congress Committee (AICC) President Mallikarjun Kharge a few days ago.
To express solidarity with the AICC President and demand the protection of constitutional values, a protest march (Padayatra) and Satyagraha were organised by the Guwahati City District Congress Committee from the Manabendra Sarma Complex in Dispur. The protest programme was attended by hundreds of party leaders and activists, including Assam Pradesh Congress Committee President Gaurav Gogoi, former MLA Satyabrata Kalita, APCC Administrative General Secretary Bipul Gogoi, Organizational General Secretary Ramanna Baruah, Assam Pradesh Mahila Congress President Meera Barthakur, General Secretary Shantanu Barthakur, Guwahati District Congress President Swapan Das, senior leader Gunakanta Gogoi, senior leader Balika Lahon Pegu, and Rupa Deuri, among others.
At the beginning of the programme, APCC General Secretary Bipul Gogoi explained the objective of the demonstration, stating that it was being organised across the country at the district level following directives from the AICC.
Following this, Congress leaders and workers took out a procession, charging the atmosphere with intense sloganeering. A tense confrontation ensued for some time between the protesters and the police when security personnel tried to obstruct the peaceful march. The Congress workers echoed through the streets with various slogans like “BJP Sarkar Go Back”, “BJP Sarkar Hai Hai”, “Stop Disrespecting the Constitution”, “End Discriminatory Politics”, “Modi Hatao, Desh Bachao”, “Himanta Biswa’s hooliganism will not be tolerated”, “BJP Hoshiyar”, and “Jab Jab Modi Darta Hai, Police Ko Aage Karta Hai”.
Addressing the media at the protest site, Gaurav Gogoi launched a scathing attack on the BJP government and party. He stated that the Constitution of India guarantees equal rights and dignity to every citizen. He remarked that staging a drama of “purification” by sprinkling Gangajal at the venue simply because Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge — a senior national leader— is a Dalit, reflects the narrow, communal, casteist, and discriminatory mindset of the BJP and the RSS. Gogoi emphasised that this act is not just an insult to Kharge, but an insult to the entire nation and the sacred Constitution.
Strongly condemning the police obstruction of the peaceful demonstration, Gogoi added that the Assam Police, acting on instructions from the Home Department, is attempting to crush democratic rights.
Stating that the BJP hides behind the police whenever it fears public anger and protests, he asserted that the people’s voice cannot be suppressed through police intimidation. He firmly declared that the Congress party will continue its fight to protect the Constitution against the BJP’s injustice, oppression, and divisive politics in the days to come.
“Insult To Constitution”: Congress Protests In Guwahati Over ‘Purification’ At Kharge’s Haldwani Event
