On Saturday, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused the BJP and the RSS of fostering untouchability, following a purification ritual that took place at Haldwani’s Ramlila Maidan after a rally led by Mallikarjun Kharge. Gandhi condemned the ritual as unconstitutional and claimed it specifically targeted Dalits, calling for legal action against those responsible. In response, the BJP has denied any involvement, with Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami publicly rejecting the accusations.
Congress President Kharge ji, who has dedicated his entire life to the country and the Constitution, goes to the Ramlila Ground in Haldwani to deliver a speech, and a purification ritual is performed there. Who does this? It is the people from the BJP and RSS. The Congress has alleged that the ritual was linked to Kharge’s Dalit identity.
Because he is a Dalit, congress leaders said the ceremony was aimed at Kharge. Kharge addressed a Congress rally at Ramlila Maidan in Haldwani on August 8, ahead of the 2027 Uttarakhand Assembly elections.
Addressing a press conference in Delhi, Gandhi said the controversy reflected a wider political and ideological contest between the Constitution and the ideology of the BJP and RSS. Referring to the ritual at the Haldwani venue, Gandhi said, “Our CLP leader in Rajasthan visits a temple, and BJP leaders perform a ‘purification’ ritual. Gandhi said the ritual conveyed that Dalits were being treated as “unclean” and should not be touched. Two days later, members of the Shri Ram Sena reportedly conducted a “shuddhikaran” havan at the venue.
Kharge had earlier raised the issue in the Rajya Sabha and questioned why a purification ceremony was needed after his speech.
Dhami has also rejected the Congress allegation. Members of a right-wing group later reportedly conducted a purification ritual at the ground, which was criticised by the leaders of Congress party. Earlier reporting noted: The controversy erupted after Kharge addressed a Congress rally at Ramlila Maidan in Haldwani on August 8.
The BJP has denied involvement in the ritual and said the ceremony was a customary religious practice that was not linked to Kharge’s visit. BJP president JP Nadda also said the party did not associate itself with such an act and described the incident as unfortunate. He said, “A few organisations protested there over the hurting of religious sentiments; the Congress party attempted to give it a Dalit angle. He described Kharge as a “highly respectable national leader” and said his insult was “unthinkable”. Kharge has said he did not mention any community or religion during his speech. He later said he did not want the matter to be politicised but demanded strict legal action against those responsible. Earlier reporting noted: ‘Congress misleading Dalit community’: BJP rejects Rahul’s claim of Kharge’s insult in Haldwani purification ritual The Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday dismissed Congress’s claims of a “purification” ritual being held at Ramlila Ground in Uttarakhand’s Haldwani after Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge addressed a public meeting there. Earlier reporting noted: Uttarakhand minister and BJP leader Khajan Das said the party had no connection with the incident and accused the Congress of “attempting to mislead” the Dalit community, ANI news agency reported.
