NEW DELHI — Congress President and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, has sharply criticized right-wing outfits over a ‘shuddhikaran’ (purification) ritual conducted at the venue of his recent public rally in Haldwani, Uttarakhand.
The controversy follows Kharge’s address at the Congress’s “Vijay Shankhnaad” rally held at Haldwani’s Ramlila Maidan on Saturday. Two days later, on August 10, members of a group named ‘Shri Ram Sena’ performed a havan to “purify” the grounds.
Key Developments
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Kharge’s Statement: Speaking in the Rajya Sabha on the final day of the Monsoon Session, Kharge condemned the act as being “against the Hindu religion itself” and an attempt to divide society along caste lines, questioning the treatment of Dalits in the country.
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BJP Response: Leader of the House JP Nadda termed the incident unfortunate, clarified that the BJP was not involved, and promised an inquiry into the matter.
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Congress Allegations: Uttarakhand Congress chief Ganesh Godiyal blamed caste-based discrimination for the event and demanded police action against the organizers, linking them to the ruling party.
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BJP Defense: State BJP spokesperson Khajan Das rejected allegations of caste discrimination, claiming the ritual was performed after religious slogans raised during the rally offended Sanatan community sentiments.
