Udit leads protest, manusmriti copies burned at RSS HQ

New Delhi: Tensions rose outside the RSS headquarters at Keshav Kunj in the national capital on Tuesday as Congress leader and former MP Udit Raj led a protest over the alleged insult of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge in Haldwani and the registration of an FIR against Rahul Gandhi.

Hundreds of protesters gathered near the RSS headquarters and burned copies of the Manusmriti and RSS uniforms as a symbolic protest. Demonstrators raised slogans asserting that the country should be governed by the Constitution and not the Manusmriti, making equality, social justice and constitutional rights the central themes of the demonstration. Udit Raj, a Congress national spokesperson and chairman of the party’s Unorganised Workers and Employees Congress, alleged that the controversy began after Kharge addressed a rally in Haldwani. He claimed that people associated with the BJP subsequently carried out a “purification” of the venue and that the BJP’s state leadership supported the action.

According to Raj, Rahul Gandhi condemned the alleged incident and demanded action against those responsible. However, he claimed that instead of proceeding against those accused of insulting Kharge, police registered an FIR against Gandhi for speaking out on the issue.

Raj described the development as an attack on democratic dissent and alleged that constitutional principles of equality, dignity and social justice were being weakened.

He said caste-based humiliation should not be viewed merely as an insult to an individual but as an affront to the dignity of the Dalit community and the constitutional principle of equality.

Police intervened during the demonstration and detained Udit Raj along with several protesters and activists. They were subsequently taken to Paharganj police station, according to the organisers.

Raj said the police action would not deter the protesters and vowed to continue raising issues concerning the Constitution, social equality and the dignity of citizens.

The demonstration brought the political row over the Haldwani episode to the doorstep of the RSS headquarters, with protesters using the burning of Manusmriti copies as a symbol of their opposition to caste discrimination.