NEW DELHI: Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, has demanded the immediate registration of an FIR under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act against individuals involved in a “purification” (shuddhikaran) ritual conducted at a rally venue in Haldwani, Uttarakhand, following an address by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge.
The controversy stems from an incident at Haldwani’s Ramlila Maidan, where Kharge addressed a public gathering. Two days after the event, members of a local right-wing group reportedly performed a havan to “purify” the grounds.
Strongly condemning the incident, Gandhi accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its ideological patron, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), of perpetuating a discriminatory “Manuvadi mindset”.
“The ‘purification’ of the stage after the public meeting of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge ji in Haldwani is not just an insult to one individual—it is an insult to the Constitution, which declared untouchability a crime,” Gandhi stated. He emphasized that the act reflected an ideology that determines a person’s societal status by birth rather than equality and human dignity.
Demand for legal action was also voiced by Kharge himself, who spoke about the incident in Parliament. Kharge expressed deep anguish, stating that the ritual made him “feel the sting of untouchability” and humiliated him. He called for strict action under the Untouchability Act and the SC/ST Act, demanding the arrest and prosecution of those responsible.
The issue has sparked sharp political exchanges both inside Parliament and across Uttarakhand. Congress leaders have questioned the inaction of the Uttarakhand state government and local police for failing to immediately lodge an FIR or take preventive measures. Party representatives announced plans for nationwide protests against what they describe as systematic anti-Dalit bias.
In response, BJP leaders rejected allegations of caste discrimination. While Union Minister J.P. Nadda condemned the incident in the Rajya Sabha and promised an investigation, local BJP representatives claimed the venue holds religious significance and that the ritual was organized in reaction to political slogans raised during the event rather than the identity of the speaker.
As the Congress party pushes for strict penal action under anti-atrocity laws, the incident continues to fuel a broader debate over caste politics, constitutional rights, and public discourse in the state.
