Panaji, Aug 31: The North Goa District Congress Committee and Mhadei District Congress Committee on Monday staged a protest at Azad Maidan in Panaji against the registration of an FIR against Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, describing the case as “malicious” and politically motivated.

The protest was organised following a directive from the All India Congress Committee (AICC).

Congress leaders also condemned an alleged casteist “purification ritual” carried out by BJP-RSS workers at the venue of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s rally in Haldwani, Uttarakhand, and demanded legal action against those allegedly involved.

The party claimed that instead of acting against those responsible for the alleged incident, Uttarakhand Police registered an FIR against Rahul Gandhi after he demanded accountability.

Congress workers raised slogans against the BJP government and accused it of misusing state machinery to target opposition leaders.

GPCC Media and Communication Department Chairman Amarnath Panjikar said an FIR could not silence Rahul Gandhi or suppress the Congress. He alleged that the BJP was “weaponising” state machinery against those speaking against caste discrimination.

Panjikar questioned why action had allegedly not been taken against those accused of carrying out the “purification” ritual and demanded that an FIR be registered against the BJP workers concerned.

“Rahul Gandhi has spoken for social justice, equality and constitutional dignity. The Congress will stand shoulder to shoulder with him,” Panjikar said.

Seva Dal Chief Organiser Rajan Ghate said the protest was not merely against one FIR but against what he described as a “dangerous mindset” that permitted caste-based humiliation while targeting those who questioned it.

District Congress president Shashank Narvekar said that if the BJP government believed in the rule of law, it should act against those responsible for the Haldwani incident. He said law and justice could not be applied selectively on the basis of political affiliation.

Congress spokesperson Samil Volvoikar alleged that the BJP was attempting to turn the police into an instrument of political intimidation. He said Congress workers would continue to defend constitutional rights and dignity.

Among those present at the protest were GPCC Vice President Tulio De Souza, Amarnath Panjikar, Samil Volvoikar, Rajan Ghate, Jitendra Gaonkar, district presidents Shashank Narvekar and Mangaldas Naik, Ramkrishna Jalmi, Himanshu Tivrekar, Pravin Blaggan, Seby Menezes, Parvati Nagvekar, Muktamala Shirodkar, Maula Rodrigues and other party workers.

Congress leaders reiterated that the party would continue its campaign against what it termed political vendetta, caste discrimination and misuse of government institutions.