New Delhi: Congress president and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday demanded that those who carried out a ‘shuddhikaran’ (purification) havan at Haldwani’s Ramlila Ground after his rally be booked under the Untouchability Act and arrested, as the controversy over the ceremony spilled into Parliament.
Raising the issue in the Rajya Sabha on the last day of the Monsoon Session, Kharge said lakhs of people had attended his August 8 rally at the venue and claimed that he had not referred to any particular community or religion in his speech.
Kharge questioned the need to “purify” the stage after his address and said the incident raised questions about constitutional values.
“Is this the way in a democracy? How are you protecting the Constitution? I am the LoP… I never wanted to politicise these issues,” Kharge said.
He demanded that a case be registered against those who purified the stage in Haldwani under the Untouchability Act and that they be arrested.
Union minister and Leader of the House in Rajya Sabha JP Nadda distanced the BJP from the ceremony, saying the party did not support such activities. He assured Kharge that the incident would be investigated and said the BJP national president would look into the matter.
“It is a matter of great regret for all of us that your sentiments were hurt,” Nadda said.
Nadda also appealed to Kharge not to turn the issue into a political confrontation, saying the BJP respected his sentiments and did not subscribe to the ceremony.
Kharge, however, pressed the government for a police case and arrests.
“I am saying register a case, arrest them… This is what we demand,” he said.
Later, speaking to reporters outside Parliament, Kharge again attacked the BJP over the incident, alleging that the ceremony reflected caste discrimination and accusing BJP workers of trying to create divisions between communities and castes.
“We have been saying for a long time that there is no place for Dalits in this country. After all, what was the need for a ‘havan’ there?” Kharge said.
Kharge said public meetings were routinely held at the Ramlila Ground and questioned the need for a purification ritual after his address. “This is the difference between BJP’s words and actions. I condemn this,” he said.
The controversy centres on the ‘shuddhikaran’ ceremony held at the Ramlila Ground in Haldwani on August 10, two days after Kharge addressed a Congress rally there.
ThePrint had earlier reported that members of Shri Ram Sena conducted the purification and worship rituals at the venue. Uttarakhand Congress chief Ganesh Godiyal had alleged that the organisation was associated with the BJP, a charge the party has denied.
Godiyal had described the incident as “deeply distressing and condemnable” and alleged that the purification of the stage reflected “caste-based discrimination and a narrow mindset”. He had urged the Nainital Senior Superintendent of Police to investigate the matter and take action if any law had been violated.
Congress general secretary KC Venugopal also criticised the incident in a post on X, calling it a “shocking act” and alleging that it reflected the BJP’s “anti-Dalit character”. He demanded an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said, “This heinous act by the BJP is completely abhorrent” and went against the values associated with B.R. Ambedkar and the Constitution.
” This is an outcome of the BJP’s culture of insults that stems right from the top, down to their cadres. Hon’ble INC President Sh. Mallikarjun Kharge ji is a leader who has reached the highest echelons of Indian politics from the humblest origins by tearing down countless social barriers,” he added.
Congress MP Rajeev Shukla also condemned the ceremony, calling it “absolutely wrong” and “deplorable”. He questioned the conduct of the purification ritual after Kharge, a Dalit leader, had addressed the meeting and urged Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami to speak on the issue.
State BJP spokesperson and Cabinet minister Khajan Das said the Congress was attempting to divert attention from slogans allegedly raised during the August 8 rally and maintained that the party had no link to the organisation that conducted the ritual.
Das also said the Ramlila Ground had religious significance and objected to slogans associated with another religion allegedly being raised at the venue.
The organisers have defended the havan, saying the Ramlila Ground has religious significance and that the ritual had nothing to do with Kharge.
In a video circulated on social media, one of the organisers said the ground was meant for Hindu religious programmes and questioned its use for a political event. The organiser also referred to Kharge’s earlier remarks about Hindu organisations while explaining the decision to conduct the ritual.
The controversy has also drawn reactions from other Opposition leaders. Congress leader Salman Soz called for action against those responsible and urged the Prime Minister, Union Home Minister, Uttarakhand Chief Minister and state police to intervene. RJD spokesperson Priyanka Bharti also criticised the ceremony and questioned the alleged BJP connection.
(Edited by Jeyasri AT)
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