- Kharge's rally venue in Uttarakhand underwent a 'purification ritual'.
- Kharge raised the issue in Rajya Sabha, saying he felt the 'sting of untouchability'.
- Rahul Gandhi, at a press conference, called the ritual an act of untouchability and a violation of the Constitution, and demanded an FIR.
- Gandhi urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure legal action against those responsible.
- BJP president J P Nadda condemned the incident as 'painful and unacceptable' and denied any party connection.
- Uttarakhand BJP president Mahendra Bhatt said the ritual was related to the political atmosphere at the venue and accused Congress of exaggerating the matter.
Rahul Gandhi has called for an FIR under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act against those who conducted a 'purification ritual' at a rally venue in Haldwani, Uttarakhand, following a speech by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge.1
Gandhi described the ritual as an act of untouchability and a violation of the Constitution, reflecting a 'BJP-RSS mindset' that undermines the dignity of Dalits. He urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure legal action against the individuals responsible for this act of caste-based discrimination.34
The incident occurred after Kharge addressed a Congress rally at Ramlila Maidan on August 8, with members of the Shri Ram Sena reportedly conducting a shuddhikaran havan at the same venue two days later. Kharge expressed that the incident made him feel the 'sting of untouchability' in the Rajya Sabha.2
In response, BJP president J P Nadda condemned the ritual as 'painful and unacceptable', denying any party connection with the organizers. However, Uttarakhand BJP president Mahendra Bhatt claimed the ritual was related to the political atmosphere rather than Kharge's caste, accusing the Congress of exaggerating the issue for political gain.56
“Gandhi said the ritual reflected a 'BJP-RSS mindset' opposed to Dalit dignity, while BJP president J P Nadda condemned it as 'painful and unacceptable' but denied party connection. Uttarakhand BJP chief Mahendra Bhatt countered that the ritual was about the venue's political atmosphere, not Kharge's caste, accusing Congress of exaggerating.”
