Rahul Gandhi Kharge Purification Row – Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi launched a sharp attack on the BJP and RSS following an alleged “shuddhikaran” (purification) ceremony conducted at Haldwani’s Ramlila Maidan in Uttarakhand, where Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge had addressed a rally. Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, Gandhi labeled the event a serious crime violating the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. He called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Uttarakhand state government to ensure immediate registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against those responsible.

  Rahul Gandhi Kharge Purification Row – Congress Terms Haldwani Event an Attack on Dalit Dignity

The controversy stems from a Congress rally addressed by Mallikarjun Kharge in Haldwani, after which members of a right-wing outfit reportedly performed a purification ritual at the Ramlila Maidan venue. Congress leaders, including Kharge himself, condemned the act as caste-based discrimination aimed at degrading Kharge due to his Dalit identity. Raising the issue in Parliament,  Kharge expressed deep anguish over the ritual, stating that such acts make him feel the “sting of untouchability” in modern Indian democracy.

 Rahul Gandhi Kharge Purification Row – Rahul Gandhi Accuses BJP – RSS of Promoting Anti-Dalit Mindset

Escalating political pressure, Rahul Gandhi questioned Prime Minister Modi’s silence on the matter, asserting that the Prime Minister has a constitutional obligation to protect Dalit rights and enforce strict legal action. Gandhi alleged that the purification act reflects the underlying mindset of the BJP and RSS, which opposes the progress and dignity of backward communities. He emphasized that performing a ritual to “purify” a venue after a Dalit leader’s presence is an offense that demands zero-tolerance enforcement under anti-atrocity laws.

 Rahul Gandhi Kharge Purification Row – BJP Distances Itself From Ritual Amid Continued Opposition Protests

The ruling BJP has denied any party involvement in organizing the ritual, with Union Minister J.P. Nadda calling the incident unfortunate and reiterating that the party does not support such actions. However, regional BJP representatives claimed the ceremony was related to general venue cleanliness and political slogans rather than caste. Rejecting the BJP’s clarifications, the Congress party maintains that the failure to register an FIR highlights a lack of accountability, promising continued agitation across state and national forums until criminal action is initiated.