Archive · 1 Sep 2026
Dotasra Condemns Haldwani Purification Ceremony and Questions FIR
A political disagreement started in Haldwani after a ceremony was held at a place where Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge had spoken.
Congress leader Govind Singh Dotasra said the ceremony was discriminatory toward Dalits.
He also asked why Rahul Gandhi faced an FIR for discussing the matter.
The BJP gave a different explanation.
It said the ceremony happened because the area was left dirty and because unsuitable slogans were allegedly used there.
Dotasra said the BJP should change its way of thinking.
He also complained about rising prices and other problems in India.
He said Congress had given many tickets to young and educated candidates in Rajasthan’s local elections.
Rajasthan Congress president Govind Singh Dotasra called the alleged Haldwani purification ceremony anti-Dalit and narrow-minded.
The ceremony reportedly took place at Haldwani’s Ramlila Ground on August 11, after Mallikarjun Kharge’s Congress rally there on August 8.
Dotasra questioned why an FIR was registered against Rahul Gandhi while no action had allegedly been taken against those involved in the ceremony.
The BJP defended the action, saying the venue was left littered and inappropriate slogans were raised at a religious site.
Dotasra also criticized the government over inflation, Manipur, jobs, farmers’ protests, GDP calculations and the distribution of Congress tickets for Rajasthan local elections.
- Who
- Rajasthan Congress president Govind Singh Dotasra made the remarks; the dispute involves the Congress, the BJP, Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi.
- What
- Dotasra condemned an alleged purification ceremony after Kharge’s rally and questioned an FIR against Gandhi.
- When
- The Congress rally was held on August 8 and the alleged ceremony on August 11; Dotasra spoke to reporters on September 1.
- Where
- The alleged ceremony took place at the Ramlila Ground in Haldwani, Uttarakhand; Dotasra spoke in Jaipur, Rajasthan.
- Why
- Congress said the ceremony reflected anti-Dalit discrimination, while the BJP said it responded to litter and inappropriate slogans at a religious site.
Congress Position
BJP Position
Meaning of the ceremony
Congress Position
Congress described the alleged purification yajna as evidence of an anti-Dalit mindset, caste discrimination and narrow-mindedness.
BJP Position
The BJP defended the action by saying the venue had been left littered after Kharge’s rally and inappropriate slogans had been raised at a religious site.
FIR against Rahul Gandhi
Congress Position
Dotasra questioned why Gandhi faced an FIR for highlighting the matter while no action had allegedly been taken against those involved in the ceremony.
BJP Position
The article does not provide the BJP’s specific response to Dotasra’s criticism of the FIR.
Government performance
Congress Position
Dotasra alleged that the government was ignoring inflation, declining jobs, farmers’ protests, infrastructure concerns and the situation in Manipur.
BJP Position
The article does not provide a detailed BJP response to these allegations.
- Congress rally
- Mallikarjun Kharge addressed a public meeting at Haldwani’s Ramlila Ground on August 8.
- Purification ceremony
- Some individuals allegedly held a purification yajna at the venue on August 11.
- FIR
- Dotasra questioned the registration of an FIR against Rahul Gandhi for raising the issue.
- BJP response
- The BJP said the venue was left littered and that inappropriate slogans were raised at a religious site.
- Rajasthan elections
- Congress allotted around 11,500 symbols for candidates in elections to 309 urban local bodies.
- Candidate selection
- Dotasra said more than 50 percent of the tickets went to young candidates.