Archive · 27 Sep 2026
Congress Plans Dalit-Adivasi Self-Respect Meeting Over Kharge Ritual
Congress is planning a meeting about an incident in Uttarakhand.
Mallikarjun Kharge held a public meeting in Haldwani on August 8.
Some people allegedly performed a purification ceremony at the same place on August 11.
Congress says the ceremony insulted Kharge and Dalit and Adivasi communities.
The party says police first did not register an FIR.
Congress says an FIR was registered after its MPs protested.
The September 29 meeting will include Congress lawmakers and other representatives.
They will discuss discrimination and violence against SC and ST communities and ways to prevent such incidents.
Congress will hold a Dalit-Adivasi Self-Respect Meeting on September 29 at Mavalankar Hall in New Delhi.
The meeting will discuss an alleged purification yajna held at Haldwani’s Ramlila Ground after Mallikarjun Kharge’s August 8 rally.
Congress leaders said the ritual insulted Kharge and the wider Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities.
The party said an FIR was registered only after MPs protested, and alleged BJP support for those who conducted the ritual.
Congress representatives will also discuss discrimination and violence against SC/ST communities and prepare a preventive roadmap.
- Who
- The Indian National Congress, including its SC/ST MPs’ Forum and AICC departments, is organising the meeting; Mallikarjun Kharge is at the center of the dispute.
- What
- Congress will hold a Dalit-Adivasi Self-Respect Meeting to discuss the alleged purification ritual and broader discrimination against SC/ST communities.
- When
- The meeting is scheduled for September 29; Kharge’s Haldwani rally took place on August 8 and the alleged purification yajna on August 11.
- Where
- The meeting will be held at Mavalankar Hall, Constitution Club of India, New Delhi; the disputed ritual allegedly took place at Ramlila Ground in Haldwani, Uttarakhand.
- Why
- Congress says the ritual insulted SC/ST communities and wants to address alleged violations of laws protecting them and prepare a preventive roadmap.
Congress allegations
Responses and denials reported
Meaning of the ritual
Congress allegations
Congress leaders said the alleged purification ritual was not only an insult to Mallikarjun Kharge but also to the entire SC/ST community.
Responses and denials reported
The reports do not include a response from the people who allegedly conducted the ritual or a rebuttal from the BJP.
Political responsibility
Congress allegations
Congress alleged that the BJP supported the incident, sought to divide people along caste lines, and that senior leaders had not condemned it.
Responses and denials reported
The reports present these as Congress allegations and do not provide responses from the BJP, Narendra Modi, Amit Shah or Pushkar Singh Dhami.
Police action
Congress allegations
Congress said the Uttarakhand government initially failed to register an FIR and that MPs’ protest led to its eventual registration.
Responses and denials reported
The reports do not include an account from Uttarakhand authorities explaining the timing or circumstances of the FIR.
- Meeting date
- September 29
- Meeting venue
- Mavalankar Hall, Constitution Club of India, New Delhi
- Organisers
- Congress SC/ST MPs’ Forum, in collaboration with relevant AICC Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe departments
- Disputed event
- An alleged purification yajna at Haldwani’s Ramlila Ground on August 11, after Kharge’s August 8 public meeting
- FIR status
- Congress said an FIR was eventually registered in Haldwani after MPs protested at the Parliament Street police station
- Laws cited
- Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955, and Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989
- Expected participants
- Congress MPs, former MPs, ministers from Congress-ruled states, MLAs and AICC representatives
