Archive · 31 Aug 2026
Rahul Gandhi Booked Over Haldwani ‘Purification’ Ritual Remarks
A ritual was held at a Haldwani ground after Mallikarjun Kharge spoke there.
Rahul Gandhi said the ritual treated Kharge unfairly because of his caste.
He asked police to investigate the people who performed it.
Instead, police registered a case against Gandhi after Amit Kumar filed a complaint.
Kumar said people from different communities, including Scheduled Castes, took part in the ritual.
He said Gandhi’s comments made the Valmiki community feel insulted.
The BJP said the ritual was connected to cleaning the ground and complaints about slogans, not Kharge’s caste.
Congress disagreed and said the ritual showed caste prejudice.
The two sides now disagree about what the ritual meant and who should face legal action.
Uttarakhand Police registered an FIR against Rahul Gandhi after a complaint from Amit Kumar, a Valmiki community member.
The complaint alleges Gandhi portrayed ritual participants as practising untouchability and being anti-Dalit.
Police invoked BNS Sections 196 and 299 and Section 3(1) of the SC/ST Act, according to the FIR cited by ThePrint.
The ritual followed Mallikarjun Kharge’s August 8 rally at Haldwani’s Ramlila Ground; reports variously date it to August 10 or 11.
Congress called the FIR evidence of an anti-Dalit, anti-Constitution mindset, while the BJP defended the ritual and denied links to its organisers.
- Who
- Rahul Gandhi was booked after a complaint by Amit Kumar, a Valmiki community member and Shri Ram Sena Dharmarth Seva Nyas member; the dispute also involves Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress and the BJP.
- What
- An FIR was registered over Gandhi’s description of a post-rally ritual as an act of untouchability and anti-Dalit conduct.
- When
- Kharge addressed the rally on August 8; the ritual was reported as occurring on August 10 or August 11; Gandhi spoke about it on August 29; the FIR was registered the following Sunday and Congress reacted on August 31.
- Where
- The ritual took place at Ramlila Ground in Haldwani, Uttarakhand, while Gandhi discussed it at a press conference in New Delhi.
- Why
- The complainant alleged that Gandhi’s remarks promoted enmity, outraged religious feelings and hurt the sentiments of people who participated in the ritual.
Congress’ Position
BJP And Complainant’s Position
Meaning of the ritual
Congress’ Position
Congress described the ritual as a casteist act of purification that humiliated Kharge and reflected an anti-Dalit mindset.
BJP And Complainant’s Position
The complainant said the event was a religious ritual and cleanliness drive involving people from different communities, including Scheduled Castes, with no connection to Kharge’s caste.
Who should face legal action
Congress’ Position
Congress demanded action against those who conducted the ritual and criticised the FIR against Gandhi after he raised the issue.
BJP And Complainant’s Position
The complainant sought action against Gandhi, alleging that his remarks falsely portrayed ritual participants as practising untouchability and being anti-Dalit.
Political links and stated reason
Congress’ Position
Congress alleged that Shri Ram Sena Dharmarth Seva Nyas was associated with the BJP and accused the BJP-RSS of an anti-Dalit and anti-Constitution mindset.
BJP And Complainant’s Position
The BJP denied links to the organisation, said it did not subscribe to such activities, and defended the ritual by citing litter at the venue and allegedly inappropriate slogans at a religious site.
- Complainant
- Amit Kumar, a Jawahar Nagar resident, Valmiki community member and Shri Ram Sena Dharmarth Seva Nyas member.
- Venue
- Ramlila Ground in Haldwani, Uttarakhand.
- Rally
- Mallikarjun Kharge addressed a Congress public meeting at the venue on August 8.
- Ritual date
- Reports identify the ritual date as August 11; the FIR account cited by ThePrint refers to August 10.
- FIR provisions
- The FIR cited Sections 196 and 299 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Section 3(1) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.
- Gandhi’s position
- He called the ritual an act of untouchability against Kharge and demanded an FIR against those responsible.
- Congress response
- Congress said it would oppose the alleged casteist mentality through democratic and legal means.
Sources
Fight against casteist mentality will be waged with full force: Cong slams FIR against Rahul
Rahul Gandhi FIR: Congress accuses BJP-RSS of ‘anti-dalit, anti-Constitution’ mindset
Rahul Gandhi booked under SC/ST Act in Uttarakhand over Haldwani ‘purification’ remark
