Archive · 13 Aug 2026
Kharge slams Shah over Parliament washout, condemns Haldwani havan
This news story is about an argument between two big political groups in India.
The Congress party's leader, Mr. Mallikarjun Kharge, is upset with the Prime Minister and the Home Minister.
He says they did not come to Parliament to listen to the other party's questions and concerns.
He says this is bad for democracy and makes members of Parliament feel discouraged.
He also criticized a special religious ceremony that happened in a town called Haldwani after his speech.
He said ceremonies that try to 'purify' people or places can divide the country.
He wants the people who did it to be arrested.
Meanwhile, Parliament's meeting, called the Monsoon Session, ended early because of loud protests.
Both the ruling party and the opposition are blaming each other.
This shows how strongly the different political groups in India can disagree.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge criticised the Centre, saying PM Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah were not ready to come to Parliament and hear the Opposition.
Kharge accused the government of trying to undermine democracy and demoralise Parliament members.
He condemned a reported 'shuddhikaran' havan at Ramlila Maidan in Haldwani, demanding cases and arrests against those involved.
The Lok Sabha was adjourned sine die on the final day of the Monsoon Session amid persistent Opposition protests and sloganeering.
High-voltage counter-protests between the BJP and Opposition MPs took place at the Makar Dwar steps, with the BJP protesting Rahul Gandhi over the Congress's lack of acknowledgement of Jharkhand protests.
- Who
- Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, who criticised PM Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah; Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition, was also targeted by BJP protesters.
- What
- Kharge slammed the government over the washout of the Monsoon Session of Parliament and condemned a reported 'shuddhikaran' (purification) havan in Haldwani.
- When
- Thursday, the final day of the Monsoon Session, after the Lok Sabha was adjourned sine die.
- Where
- The Parliament complex in New Delhi, including the Lok Sabha and the Makar Dwar steps, and Ramlila Maidan in Haldwani.
- Why
- Kharge said the PM and Home Minister avoided the House and accused the government of undermining democracy; he also said the 'purification' ritual divides the country.
Opposition (Congress)
Government (BJP)
Responsibility for the Monsoon Session washout
Opposition (Congress)
Kharge says the PM and Home Minister were not ready to come to the House, accusing the government of undermining democracy and demoralising MPs.
Government (BJP)
The article notes the House was disrupted by persistent Opposition protests and sloganeering, and the BJP protested Rahul Gandhi over the Congress's lack of acknowledgement of Jharkhand protests.
Haldwani 'shuddhikaran' havan
Opposition (Congress)
Kharge condemned the reported havan as dividing the country and demanded cases and arrests against those who performed the 'purification'.
Government (BJP)
The ritual was reportedly performed as a religious 'purification' (shuddhikaran) at Ramlila Maidan in Haldwani after Kharge's rally; Kharge himself linked it to people who believe in BJP's principles.
- Speaker
- Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress president
- Criticised
- Centre, PM Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah
- Context
- Washout of the Monsoon Session of Parliament
- Session outcome
- Lok Sabha adjourned sine die amid Opposition protests
- Haldwani incident
- Reported 'shuddhikaran' havan at Ramlila Maidan after Kharge's rally
- Kharge's demand
- Cases filed and arrests of those who performed the 'purification'
- Parliament protests
- Counter-protests between BJP and Opposition MPs at Makar Dwar steps
- BJP protest
- Against Rahul Gandhi over Congress's lack of acknowledgement of Jharkhand protests