Archive · 10 Sep 2026
Haldwani Becomes Uttarakhand Battleground Over Vande Mataram and Ramlila Ground
Haldwani has become a political fighting ground in Uttarakhand.
The Congress says a religious group held a purification ceremony after its leader Mallikarjun Kharge spoke at the Ramlila ground.
Congress leaders say this was meant to insult Kharge’s Dalit identity.
The BJP says it was not involved in the ceremony.
BJP leaders instead accuse Congress of dividing people and not respecting Vande Mataram.
The Congress follows an older rule allowing two stanzas of the song at its events.
The central government has asked for all six stanzas at official events.
Both parties are using the dispute as they prepare for the 2027 state election.
Haldwani has become a flashpoint between the BJP and Congress ahead of Uttarakhand’s 2027 Assembly elections.
The Congress accused a Hindutva group linked to the BJP of conducting purification rituals at the Ramlila ground after Mallikarjun Kharge’s rally.
BJP leaders denied involvement in the rituals and accused Kharge’s event of using religious slogans and divisive politics.
Congress protesters were stopped by police while trying to reach a BJP meeting addressed by Nitin Nabin.
The dispute also concerns whether Congress events should sing two or all six stanzas of Vande Mataram.
- Who
- The Bharatiya Janata Party, the Indian National Congress, Mallikarjun Kharge, Nitin Nabin, and Uttarakhand leaders and activists are involved.
- What
- A political dispute has developed over alleged purification rituals at Haldwani’s Ramlila ground and the singing of Vande Mataram.
- When
- The purification ritual followed Kharge’s rally on August 8; police registered a case on Tuesday, and protests and BJP meetings took place on Wednesday.
- Where
- Haldwani, in Uttarakhand’s Nainital district, with related political activity in Dehradun.
- Why
- The parties are contesting the meaning of the ritual, Kharge’s Dalit identity, religious symbolism, and cultural issues ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections.
Congress Position
BJP Position
Purification ceremony
Congress Position
The Congress says people associated with the BJP conducted rituals at the Ramlila ground to insult Kharge’s Dalit identity and demands the accused be identified and arrested.
BJP Position
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami says the BJP had nothing to do with the event.
Political messaging
Congress Position
Congress leaders accuse the BJP of directing hatred toward minorities to consolidate majority votes and say the state’s problems include joblessness, poverty, and anarchy.
BJP Position
BJP leaders accuse Congress of appeasement, divisive politics, and disrespect for Sanatan tradition, and say they will campaign on development and cultural preservation.
Vande Mataram
Congress Position
The Congress says it will follow its 1937 resolution to sing only the first two stanzas at party events.
BJP Position
The BJP criticizes Congress for its position and supports the full rendition of all six stanzas, citing the importance of the national song and Indian culture.
- Location
- Haldwani, Nainital district, Uttarakhand
- Election context
- Uttarakhand Assembly elections are scheduled for 2027
- Ramlila event
- A hawan was held at the Ramlila ground after Mallikarjun Kharge’s rally on August 8
- Police case
- Haldwani police registered a case under the SC/ST Act against unidentified persons
- Vande Mataram dispute
- Congress follows a 1937 resolution allowing two stanzas at party events, while central guidelines require all six stanzas at official events
- BJP meeting
- The BJP held a hurriedly called two-day state working committee meeting in Haldwani
- Protest
- Congress workers were stopped by police barricades while approaching the BJP meeting venue