3 days ago
Rahul Gandhi Seeks FIR Over Haldwani Purification Ritual
A ritual called shuddhikaran was held at a place where Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge had spoken.
Kharge is a Dalit leader.
Rahul Gandhi said the ritual suggested that Dalits are unclean and should not be touched.
He called this untouchability, which is prohibited by India’s Constitution.
Gandhi asked police to file a case under a law protecting Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
BJP leaders said the ritual was not about Kharge’s caste.
They said it happened because of alleged religious slogans and the condition of the venue.
Congress said it may begin a larger movement if police do not act.
Rahul Gandhi called the Haldwani ‘shuddhikaran’ ritual another name for untouchability and a constitutional crime.
He demanded an FIR under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act against those who conducted it.
The ritual followed Mallikarjun Kharge’s Congress rally at Haldwani’s Ramlila Maidan, though reports differ on whether the rally or ceremony occurred on August 8 or August 10.
BJP leaders said the ceremony concerned alleged religious slogans and the venue’s condition, not Kharge’s caste, and denied BJP organizational involvement.
Congress said it was awaiting police action and could launch a movement if Uttarakhand authorities did not act.
- Who
- Rahul Gandhi demanded action concerning a ritual held after Mallikarjun Kharge’s rally; BJP and RSS members were accused by Gandhi, while BJP leaders denied organizational involvement.
- What
- A dispute arose over a Haldwani purification ritual and whether it constituted caste-based untouchability and a violation of the SC/ST Act.
- Where
- The ritual took place at Ramlila Maidan in Haldwani, Uttarakhand, according to one report.
- When
- The rally and ritual were reported as occurring in August; sources variously identify August 8 as the rally date and August 10 as the ceremony date, with about 20 days to three weeks passing without police action.
- Why
- Gandhi said the ritual implied that Dalits were impure, while BJP leaders said it responded to alleged religious slogans and a venue they said had been dirtied.
Congress and Rahul Gandhi’s allegation
BJP and allied leaders’ response
Meaning of the ritual
Congress and Rahul Gandhi’s allegation
Rahul Gandhi said shuddhikaran implied that Dalits are unclean and should not be touched, making it an act of untouchability.
BJP and allied leaders’ response
BJP leaders said the ceremony was not directed at Kharge or his caste and was prompted by alleged religious slogans and the venue’s condition.
Responsibility for the ceremony
Congress and Rahul Gandhi’s allegation
Gandhi accused BJP and RSS members of carrying out the ritual and sought an FIR against those responsible. Uttarakhand Congress also accused the Shri Ram Sena and alleged links with the BJP.
BJP and allied leaders’ response
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said no BJP worker participated. B.L. Santosh said the group included some Dalits, while Jitan Ram Manjhi denied responsibility by the BJP, RSS or NDA. The BJP denied links to the Shri Ram Sena.
Government and police action
Congress and Rahul Gandhi’s allegation
Congress demanded immediate action and said it could begin a movement if the Uttarakhand government did not act.
BJP and allied leaders’ response
BJP leaders said the party did not support such activities; J.P. Nadda said the incident would be investigated, while reports said no police action had yet occurred.
Key facts
- Main demand
- Rahul Gandhi sought an FIR against those who conducted the ritual.
- Requested law
- The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
- Associated leader
- Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress president and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha.
- Location
- Ramlila Maidan, Haldwani, Uttarakhand.
- Reported timing
- Sources cite August 8 for the rally and August 10 for the ceremony; reports said roughly 20 days to three weeks had passed without police action.
- Congress position
- Gandhi described shuddhikaran as untouchability and a violation of constitutional protections.
- BJP position
- BJP leaders said the ritual was linked to alleged slogans and the venue’s condition, not Kharge’s caste, and denied BJP-worker involvement.
Quotes
Pushkar Singh Dhami
Chief minister of Uttarakhand
“A fight is underway in the country between two ideologies. On one side is the Constitution of India, the Constitution of Ambedkar, Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Sardar Patel. On the other is the ideology of the BJP and RSS. The politics currently playing out in India is between these two ideologies.”
thehansindia.com
“Only BJP and RSS members do this, and it is a crime. Under India’s Constitution, this is a crime, a criminal activity. ‘Purification’ is actually just another name for untouchability. Untouchability was outlawed, yet BJP members practice it openly.”
thehansindia.com
Sources
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