Archive · 29 Aug 2026
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.
- When
- Kharge’s meeting was held on August 8, 2026; the ceremony reportedly took place two days later, and Tharoor commented on August 29.
- Where
- Ramlila Maidan in Haldwani, India.
- Why
- Tharoor said the incident reflected a discriminatory mindset and constituted an assault on Dalit dignity.
- 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