Mallikarjun Kharge says 'Purification' Ceremony Held at His Rally Venue was Humiliating

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has condemned a “shuddhikaran” or purification ceremony conducted at a rally venue in Haldwani after he addressed a public meeting there, describing the incident as humiliating and saying it made him feel the sting of untouchability. Kharge, who is also the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, demanded that a case be registered under the law dealing with untouchability and that those responsible be arrested.

Kharge addressed the “Vijay Shankhnaad” rally at Ramlila Maidan in Haldwani on Saturday. Two days later, on August 10, members of the right-wing group Shri Ram Sena performed a “shuddhikaran” havan at the venue. Kharge questioned the need for the ritual and alleged that such actions promote caste divisions, while stressing that the ground is a public venue used for meetings by political parties.

Raising the issue in Parliament on Thursday, Kharge recalled that a large gathering had attended his Haldwani speech and maintained that he had not referred to any particular community or religion during the address. He questioned whether conducting a ritual to “purify” the stage after his speech was compatible with democratic values and constitutional principles. Kharge also maintained that he had never sought protection or sympathy by identifying himself as a Dalit.

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Kharge described the incident as an experience that brought back the sting of untouchability and said he felt humiliated by what happened at the venue. He called for legal action against those involved, while stating that he had the strength to fight against such treatment. Uttarakhand Congress chief Ganesh Godiyal also alleged that the ritual was linked to Kharge’s Dalit identity and accused the BJP of promoting caste divisions, a charge rejected by the BJP.

In the Rajya Sabha, BJP president JP Nadda termed the incident unfortunate and clarified that BJP members were not involved. He also assured the House that an inquiry would be conducted. Godiyal, meanwhile, questioned why action had not been taken against the Shri Ram Sena and alleged that the group had links with the BJP, an allegation the party has denied.

The BJP offered a different explanation for the ceremony. Uttarakhand BJP spokesperson and Cabinet Minister Khajan Das alleged that slogans raised during Kharge’s rally had hurt the sentiments of members of the Sanatan community and argued that the Ramlila Maidan had religious significance. The BJP also rejected the Congress allegation that the purification was connected to Kharge’s caste, while accusing the Congress of having disrespected Dalit leaders in the past. The competing allegations have intensified the political dispute over the Haldwani incident.

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