4 days ago
Tharoor Calls Kharge Purification Row Evidence of BJP Discrimination
A political dispute began after a ceremony was held at a place where Mallikarjun Kharge had spoken.
Kharge is a prominent Dalit leader and the president of the Congress party.
A local group called Shri Ram Sena carried out what the article describes as a purification ceremony.
Shashi Tharoor said the ceremony showed prejudice against Dalit people.
He said calling it “shuddhikaran” or “safai” does not change what happened.
Tharoor described the act as untouchability.
He said it was unconstitutional and could be punishable under a law protecting Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
He also said the incident should be treated as an issue affecting Dalit citizens generally, not only Kharge personally.
Shashi Tharoor accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of a deeply entrenched discriminatory mindset.
Tharoor said the incident was a direct assault on every Dalit citizen’s dignity.
He rejected descriptions of the ceremony as “shuddhikaran” or “safai.”
Tharoor characterized purification after a prominent Dalit leader’s presence as untouchability.
Mallikarjun Kharge addressed a public meeting in Haldwani on August 8, 2026, followed by a ceremony at the venue two days later.
- Who
- Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, the Bharatiya Janata Party, and Shri Ram Sena are identified in the report.
- What
- Tharoor criticized an alleged purification ceremony held after Kharge’s visit to a public-meeting venue.
- Where
- Ramlila Maidan in Haldwani, India.
- When
- Kharge’s meeting was held on August 8, 2026; the ceremony reportedly took place two days later, and Tharoor commented on August 29.
- Why
- Tharoor said the incident reflected a discriminatory mindset and constituted an assault on Dalit dignity.
Key facts
- Speaker
- Shashi Tharoor, a Congress member of Parliament
- Person at center of row
- Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress president
- Venue
- Ramlila Maidan, Haldwani
- Public meeting
- Held on August 8, 2026
- Reported ceremony
- Shri Ram Sena held a purification ceremony at the venue two days later
- Tharoor’s characterization
- He called the act untouchability and said it was unconstitutional and punishable
- Law cited
- Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act
Quotes
Shashi Tharoor
Congress Member of Parliament commenting on the alleged purification ritual involving Mallikarjun Kharge
“Attempting to hide behind words like ‘shuddhikaran’ or ‘safai’, as @rahulgandhi pointed out, does not erase the nature of the act. Performing a ‘purification’ ritual following the presence of a prominent Dalit leader is an act of untouchability. It is unconstitutional, unacceptable, and a punishable offense under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.”
wionews.com
“The Root Cause is BJP’s Ideology: Excuses, regret, or semantic deflections cannot mask the underlying problem. This incident reflects the deeply entrenched, discriminatory mindset of the BJP's leadership and ideology. We must not allow those responsible to evade accountability.”
wionews.com
Sources
Related news
Kharge Alleges Purification Ritual; Rajya Sabha Chairman Orders Probe
Rahul Gandhi Seeks FIR Over Haldwani Purification Ritual
Congress, BJP clash over 'shuddhikaran' row after Kharge's Haldwani rally
Rahul Gandhi Demands FIR Over Kharge Haldwani Purification Row
Rahul Gandhi Demands FIR Over Haldwani Purification Row
Priyanka Demands FIR Under SC/ST Act Over Kharge Venue Ritual
Lokesh Urges Alliance Leaders to Secure Huge Local Poll Victory
BJP MPs Seek National Commission for General Category Interests
Farooq Abdullah’s Threat Claims Ignite Fury Over Kashmir Statehood
GDP Row Escalates as Government Rebuts 2.6% Growth Claim
Karra Says J-K People Caught Between Two Power Centres
